Bright’s Boffins (ITV 1970-1972, Alexander Dore, Gordon Rollings)

Bright’s Boffins was a slapsticky children’s series that focused on the exploits of a group of government scientists working for Group Captain Bertram Bright.

The gang worked at the somewhat obscure Government research centre called Halfwitt House (which gives you some idea of the tone of the series). Professor Farthing was the inventions expert whose inventions were never quite expert and Bright himself was forever trying to make sure that the Government didn’t close them down.

Season 2 saw the team have to move (Halfwitt House having burned down) to a new home at disused railway station Larst Halt whilst season three saw another move – this time to a farmhouse in the country. For season three production designer Greg Lawson built the farmhouse completely in the studio but based it heavily on a 500 year old building that was close to his own home in Wickham.

Sadly no episodes of the show are believed to still be in existence although there are still reminders available as for a time it was given the accolade of a comic-strip in Look-In magazine.

production details
UK / ITV – Southern / 39×30 minute episodes 1970-72 / Three seasons

Producer: Peter Croft

cast
ALEXANDER DORE as Bertram Bright
AVRIL ANGERS as Molly McCrandle
DENIS SHAW as Sgt Thumper
GEORGE MOON as Berk
GORDON ROLLINGS as Dogsears Dawson
EDDIE REINDEER as Marmaduke

SEASON ONE 3 August 1970 – 26 October 1970
1. FRIEND OR FOE? (3 Aug 1970)
2. REVOLUTION (10 Aug 1970)
3. OPERATION APPARITION (17 Aug 1970)
4. THE COMPUTER (24 Aug 1970)
5. JUMPING JUICE (31 Aug 1970)
6. LOONY LANDING (7 Sep 1970)
7. CATSEYES (14 Sep 1970)
8., THE SUBMARINE (21 Sep 1970)
9. IN THE MIND (28 Sep 1970)
10. THE DINGHY (5 Oct 1970)
11. THE FETE (12 Oct 1970)
12. THE CURSE (19 Oct 1970)
13. S.O.T.S. (26 Oct 1970)

SEASON TWO 21 April – 14 July 1971
1. BACK TO WORK (21 Apr 1971)
2. HOUSE HUNTING (28 Apr 1971)
3. FURNISHING (5 May 1971)
4. ALGY! (12 May 1971)
5. ALL CHANGE (19 May 1971)
6. TOO MANY COOKS (26 May 1971)
7. SEEING STARS (2 Jun 1971)
8. MANY HAPPY RETURNS (9 Jun 1971)
9. AIRBORNE (16 Jun 1971)
10. HOLIDAYS (23 Jun 1971)
11. THE SMUGGLERS (30 Jun 1971)
12. GENERAL UPHEAVAL (7 Jul 1971)
13. THE BERTRAM BRIGHT STORY (14 Jul 1971)

SEASON THREE 3 January – 27 March 1972
1. EJECTED! (3 Jan 1972)
2. STRAW WITHOUT BRICKS! (10 Jan 1972)
3. THE SCOOTER (17 Jan 1972)
4. BURIED TREASURE (24 Jan 1972)
5. THE DENTISTS (31 Jan 1972)
6. THE BALLOON (7 Feb 1972)
7. THE BABY (14 Feb 1972)
8. WARMING UP (21 Feb 1972)
9. THE VICAR CALLS (28 Feb 1972)
10. THE BANQUET (6 Mar 1972)
11. THE HOSPITAL (13 Mar 1972)
12. IN THE NICK (20 Mar 1972)
13. THE ESCAPE (27 Mar 1972)