Kerwhizz

Kerwhizz (strapline: The Quiz with added Whizz) is a British live-action/animated children's television game show created by Tony Reed and Alan Robinson, which originally aired on CBeebies between 2008 and 2011. The series uses a mix of CGI and live action, and is targeted towards four to six-year-olds.

Kerwhizz
Genre	Children's game show
Created by	Tony Reed and Alan Robinson
Written by	Katie Simmons, Alan Robinson, Helen Baker, Barry Quinn, Stephen Cannon, Feri Tezcan, Adam Redfern, Simon Davies and others
Presented by	Jacob Scipio (as the Kerwhizzitor)
Voices of	Telka Donyai Alex Velleman Kriselle Basilio Yasmin Garrad Jermaine Woods
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	41
Production
Executive producer	Stephen Cannon
Producer	Alison Stewart
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	BBC Studio 100
Original release
Network	CBeebies
Release	7 November 2008 (2008-11-07) – 25 March 2011 (2011-03-25)

Summary

The show is moderated and presented by the Kerwhizzitor (Jacob Scipio), the only regular live-action character. Three teams of two CGI characters, each comprising a human child racer and a part-living, part-mechanical animal pet, must answer five rounds of questions, each featuring a regular 2D animated animal character, to win a choice of pod mod for their respective racing pods. In addition, one of the five rounds offer the chance to win a mystery pod mod. Each pod mod and mystery mod is an unconventional accessory that may or may not give its user a better chance of winning the race. The teams are cheered on by three groups of live-action children dressed in the teams' colours and waving team flags. Points are scored based on how many questions are answered correctly.

All of the questions are multiple-choice with the answers colour-coded red, green, yellow or blue (not coincidentally, these are the standard colours of the function buttons on TV remote controls). Once the question rounds are complete, the teams choose their pod mods. Then, the teams' pods are assembled and built around them and their respective pod mods are installed, fitted and added to their pods. The pods are then raised through the roof of the studio into the CGI race world. Each race world is a themed racing environment (the questions usually include clues to the theme) containing three or occasionally four zones and each story and race comprises two or occasionally three laps (except in "The Deserted Desert Dash" which is a novelty race with no set route and a hidden finish line). All of the teams are likely to encounter unexpected setbacks and opportunities along the way, making the outcome of each race unpredictable. Each episode ends when the race is won and the winner revealed, after which some of the teams are shown doing activities based on the theme of the race, announced by the Kerwhizzitor.

Characters

Questionmaster

• Kerwhizzitor (played by Jacob Scipio) is a young guy who moderates the quiz, asks the questions, makes bad puns and rhymes based on the theme and tries to keep the teams in order. In the race world and the story world sequences Kerwhizzitor commentates.

Contestants

• Team Ninki comprises Ninki (voiced by Kriselle Basilio), a dark-skinned 10-year-old girl with bunches, a Mid-European accent and a singing voice that is commonly said to be "terrible" (although while introducing her team at the beginning of every episode she sings well); and Pip (vocal effects by an unknown voice actor), a green-furred creature somewhat resembling a Scottish terrier with an extendable metal neck. Pip can't speak, but can often shape his barks and growls into an approximation of words. Despite this Ninki sometimes fails to hear him when he has an answer to a question and offers her own answer which is usually incorrect instead, causing him to growl in frustration. Team colour: yellow. Team logo: yellow star.
• Team Twist comprises Twist (voiced by Alex Velleman), a highly confident, desperate to be cool, blonde 12-year-old boy with pale skin and a fixation for style; and Snout (voiced by Jermaine Woods, not credited in series 2 for unknown reasons), who resembles an orange-furred, two-legged middle-aged woolly mammoth with a plastic trunk and has a fixation of his own with sprouts. In the episode "Planet Snout" the eponymous planet is revealed to be his home world and the origin of his sprout obsession. It is also revealed that Snout has two nephews called Rocco and Rico. Team colour: blue. Team logo: blue spiral.
• Team Kit comprises Kit (voiced by Telka Donyai), a fair-skinned 11-year-old girl with blue hair who is very brainy and good at thinking around problems. Though her confidence in her abilities is as great as Twist's, occasionally causing some girl-boy rivalry between them; and Kaboodle (voiced by Yasmin Garrad), who is basically a furry ball with a face, two conical plastic ears/antennae and a springy conical plastic leg. She appears to be less mature than the other racers and often requires emotional support from Kit. She is able to electrify anything after bouncing for long enough. Team colour: pink. Team logo: pink lightning bolt.

Question hosts

These characters appear in the flash-animated question sequences. None of them speak, since the questions are all read by the Kerwhizzitor. In many episodes they, or characters based on their designs, also appear in CGI form in the race world sequences, where they are much bigger than the human contestants.

• Natterjack the Toad presents two questions per episode based on picture recognition. A typical question might involve the teams identifying one of four pictures that is identical to one that Natterjack has drawn.
• Burping Hurbert the Burpasaur presents one question based on visual memory. This typically involves Hurbert eating one of several objects and the teams having to choose which one it was from four alternatives.
• King Pong the Skunk presents "Hunt That Skunk", in which he hides in or behind four objects in rapid succession. Pip, Snout, and Kaboodle have to decide which object was his last hiding place in order to win the Mystery Mod. King Pong's appearance is always heralded by a smelly green vapour. Occasionally he is replaced by his relatives, such as the pirate Long Pong Silver (who smells even worse than King Pong himself), or by Queen Pong or Princess Pong (who both smell very nice and produce fragrant pink vapour, unlike King Pong himself).
• Kat Kool the Cat presents "Kat Kool's Sound Round", one question based on auditory memory. Typically Kat Kool or his band will play a tune, and the teams must then choose which of four alternative tunes matches.

Songs

• Kerwhizz Theme Song
• Kerwhizz (End Title)
• Love for All Seasons

Episodes

Series	Episode	Quiz Winner	Race Winner	Title	Route	Podmods	Original Air Date
1	1	Kit	Twist	Vegetable Valley Alley	Pumpkin Parade Fruit Falls Corn Cob Corners Pong's Patch Radish Road	Gleaming Garden Snippers (Kit) Spade (Twist) Packet of Seeds (Ninki) Giant Sprout (Mystery, Twist)	7 November 2008
1	2	Ninki	Kit	The Slip and Slide Snow Ride	Snow Stretch Glacier Gully Snow Drift Rift Don't Sink Rink	Crampon Claws (Kit) Supersonic Skis (Ninki) Expander Specs (Twist) Bobble Hat (Mystery, Ninki)	14 November 2008
1	3	Twist	Ninki	Castle Kingdom	Drawbridge Gate Field of Shields The Knight's Table	Lance (Ninki) Plastic Fantastic Sword (Kit) Tur-bow (Twist) Egg (Mystery, Ninki)	21 November 2008
1	4	Ninki	Kit	Bedroom Zoom	Mobile Junction Under Bed Cosy Comfy Corner Sweet Dream Street	Mega Moonbeam Super Torch (Ninki) Shooting Star (Twist) Teddy Bear Tim (Kit) Giant Alarm Clock (Mystery, Twist)	28 November 2008
1	5	Kit	Twist	The Daring Dino Dash	Fossil Forest Dino Egg Gulch Old Crusty	Musical Conch Shell (Ninki) Diviner (Kit) Daffodactyl Flower (Twist) Scarf (Mystery, Twist)	5 December 2008
1	6	Kit	Ninki	Hat-Trick Highway	Top Hat #1 Top Hat #2 Top Hat #3	Future Ball (Ninki) Wonder Wand (Kit) Natterjoker (Twist) Corrector (Mystery, Twist)	12 December 2008
1	7	Kit	Kit	Funfair Freeway	Helter Skelter Felter Bumper Car Bypass Faster Than Moster Roller Coaster	Balloons (Ninki) Rubber Bumpers (Kit) Candy Flosser (Twist) Free Ride (Mystery, Twist)	19 December 2008
1	8	Kit	Ninki	The Great Space Race	The International Space Station Asteroid Felter The Mysterious Rings of Saturn The Hyper-Space Toll Booth	Keryptonite (Kit) Faster Feather Duster (Ninki) Comet Catcher Net (Twist) Time-Travelling Clock (Mystery, Kit)	9 January 2009
1	9	Ninki	Twist	Bowling Alley Rally	The Twisty Turny Tunnels Skittle Forest King Pong's Shoe Room Bowling Alley Alley	Lucky Bowling Arm Charm (Ninki) Super Speakers (Twist) Quicker-Sticker Sticky Stuff (Kit) Skittle Stopper (Mystery, Kit. not taken)	16 January 2009
1	10	Twist	Ninki	The Ace Choc Chase Race	Choco Way The Choco Block The Chocolate Drop Chocolate Fountain Mountain Home Sweet Home Street	Bubbler (Kit) Marshmallow Maker (Twist) Fruit-and-Nutter (Ninki) Gripper-Dipper (Mystery, Twist)	23 January 2009
1	11	Kit	Kit	Underwater Whizzway	The Avenue of Arches The Sunken Ship Wreck The Vortex The Weed Way	Rusty Anchor (Kit) Plug (Twist) Fish Food (Ninki) Muncher Fish (Mystery, Kit)	30 January 2009
1	12	Ninki	Twist	The Supershape Showdown	The Polygon Pass The Round and Round-a-bout The Triangle Tangle The Star Jump	Prankstar (Ninki) Super-Springy Thingy (Twist) Totally Triangular Shape Cutter (Kit) Stumbling Block (Mystery, Kit)	6 February 2009
1	13	Kit	Ninki and Kit	Egypt World	The Giant Pyramid The Tunnel of Cheops Chambers Crazy Colonnades	Really Useful Relic (Ninki) Papyrus Password (Kit) Eat-My-Duster (Twist) Ancient, Light-Reflecting Gem (Mystery, Kit)	13 February 2009
1	14	Twist	Ninki	Supermarket Sprint	Trolley Dash Turn Fresh Food Freeway Silly Isles Cheddar Gorge Checkpoint Checkout	Tip-Top Trolley Dodger (Twist) Label Enabler (Kit) Shopping Bag (Ninki) Cheap-at-Half-the-Price Super Stacker (Mystery, Twist)	20 February 2009
1	15	Twist	Twist	Goldfish Gulp	Pipe Wipeout Weedy Way Fishy Fortress	Big, Bouncy Bubble (Ninki) Propellor (Twist) Rubber Ring (Kit) Fishy Fin (Mystery, Twist)	27 February 2009
1	16	Twist	Ninki	Whiffy World	Stinky Sock Street Queen Pong's Pungent Patch Putrid Pipes	Super Socker (Twist) Super Sucker (Kit) Pongy Plunger (Ninki) Giant Pepper Pot (Mystery, Twist)	6 March 2009
1	17	Ninki	Kit (Slowest pod wins)	Opposite World	The Upside-Downs The Arrow Route Floating Freeway	Faster Blaster (Ninki) Goer Slower (Kit) Flashlight (Twist) Swapsie (Mystery, Ninki)	13 March 2009
1	18	Kit	Twist	Crazy Racy Golf	Hole #1: Natterjack Sphinx Street Hole #2: Pong's Parade Hole #3: Kat Kool's Causeway	Right-On Cue (Twist) Putt-Putt-Putter (Kit) Plug Mod (Ninki) Mega Bouncing Ball (Mystery, Twist. not taken)	20 March 2009
1	19	Kit	All	Daredevil Dreamway	Boodle's Bounce-a-bout Snout's Amazing Maze Pip's Place	Sniffertron (Kit) Practical Pointer (Twist) Pip's Perfect Pod Mod (Ninki) Pod-in-a-Box (Mystery, Kit)	27 March 2009
1	20	Ninki	Kit	The Fairy Tale Trail	The Beanstalk Cloud Pass The Giant's Castle	One Wish (Kit) Two Wishes (Twist) Three Wishes (Ninki) Nattertoad (Mystery, Ninki)	3 April 2009
1	21	Ninki	Ninki	The Marvellous Musical Marathon	Kat Kool's Nifty Notes Tuba Tunnel Thumper Jumper Cymbal Straight	Mega megaphone (Ninki) Cool Conductor (Kit) Super Speakers (Twist) Wonderhorn (Mystery, Ninki)	10 April 2009
1	22	Twist	Kit	Party Paradise	King Pong's Parcel Pass The Balloon Room The Dancing Disco	Food Finding Fork (Twist) Power Party Popper (Kit) Pressing Presser (Ninki) Parcel (Mystery, Twist)	17 April 2009
1	23	Kit	Twist	The Four Season Freeway	Spring Fling Summer Daze Automatic Alley	Nibbling Gnashers (Ninki) Brumbrella (Kit) Lead Guitar (Twist) Ticket to Boys for All Seasons concert (Mystery, Kit)	24 April 2009
1	24	Kit	Kit	The Super Ace Rainbow Race	Panorama Rama Loop-the-Loop Land White World	Top Drawer (Kit) Fade-Away Vanishing Block (Twist) Splatter (Ninki) Colour-Me-Wonderful Paint Set (Mystery, Ninki)	1 May 2009
1	25	Kit	Twist	Moonlight Night Flight	Starlight Expressway Dark Park Moonlight Parade	Clouder-Outer (Ninki) Cool Cat's Eyes (Kit) Shooting Starburst Boost (Twist) Flight of Fireflies (Mystery, Kit)	8 May 2009
1	26	Twist	Ninki	Fun Food Freeway	The Big Cheese The Wedge of Veg Pudding Lane	Frisky Whisk (Ninki) Grater-Scraper (Twist) Cheese Board (Kit) Chef's Hat (Mystery, Kit)	15 May 2009
2	1	Twist	Kit	Building Block Rock	Crane Corner Turning Tunnel The Working Herberts	Brick Basher (Ninki) Dino Demolition Ball (Twist) Foghorn (Kit) Mega Cone (Mystery, Ninki)	7 March 2011
2	2	Kit	Twist	The Ker-razy Cave Caper	The Looping Lava Tube Glacier Gully Stalactite Slalom	Rockin' Rocket Boosters (Kit) Hyper Heater (Twist) Picky (Ninki) Superstar Night Light (Mystery, Twist)	8 March 2011
2	3	Ninki	Ninki	The Play Place Race	The Bouncy Castle Start Line Slippy Slope/The Musical Tubes Roller Squeeze Straight Ball Pond Plunge	Super Suckers (Twist) Big Wide Wedge (Kit) Blow-Up Bouncers (Ninki) De-tangler (Mystery, Twist)	9 March 2011
2	4	Kit	Twist	Spooky Speedway	Hairy Scary Hallway Room of Choices The Web Way	Bat Wings (Kit) Lending Hand (Ninki) Glower (Twist) Spooky Sheet (Mystery, Ninki)	10 March 2011
2	5	Kit	Kit	The Speedy Greedy Bake Race	Steady Bready Bridge Donut Tunnel through the Middle of Meringue Mountain Tackle the Bumpy Bun Jumps	Frisky Whisk (Kit) Getaway Tray (Twist) Icing Bag (Ninki) Dreamy Creamy Fondant Fancy (Mystery, Twist. not taken)	11 March 2011
2	6	Ninki	Ninki	Wild West World	Tumble Weed Trail Tin Can Canyon Old Pine Gold Mine	Sheriff's Badge (Ninki) Lasso (Twist) Burpalo Nickel (Kit) Cowboy Hat (Mystery, Kit)	14 March 2011
2	7	Twist	Twist	The Overgrown Garden Getaway	Long Forgotten Lawn Park and Glide Pond Tree-mendous Avenue	Hopping-glad frog legs (Twist) Creaky-Squeaky Lawnmower (Kit) Long Stick (Ninki) Hairdressing Set (Mystery, Ninki)	15 March 2011
2	8	Kit	Kit	City Speedway	The Statue of Ribbity The Subway Skyscraper Caper The Showtime Shimmy	Beat Bop Baton (Kit) Subway Tickets (Twist) Big Onion (Ninki) Year's Supply of Popcorn (Mystery, Ninki)	16 March 2011
2	9	Ninki	Ninki	The Giant Jungle Jetway	Undergrowth Expressway Tree Trunk Trail The Leaves	Leaping Lizard Legs (Ninki) Frog's Tongue (Twist) Zapper (Kit) Rain Cloud (Mystery, Ninki)	17 March 2011
2	10	Ninki	Twist	Arty Crafty Caper	Origami Forest Glitter Falls Natter Stamp Street Paper Plane Pass	Safety Scissors (Ninki) Super Sticker (Twist) Perfect Painter (Kit) Ball of Super String (Mystery, Twist)	18 March 2011
2	11	Twist	Kit	Treasure Island Trail	Pirate Ship Wreck Coconut Grove Quick Sand Land	Hook (Twist) Main Sail (Ninki) Rope (Kit) Treasure Map (Mystery, Twist)	21 March 2011
2	12	Twist	Ninki	The Toy Factory Track	Toy Toad Travelator Burpalloon Way Toy Pong Parade	Quick and Slick Oil Can (Twist) Top Popper (Ninki) Spanner (Kit) Toy Model of Kerwhizzitor (Mystery, Ninki. not taken) "Thingamajig" (extra mystery item, Ninki)	22 March 2011
2	13	Twist	Twist	Planet Snout	Sprout Wood Crackle Crater Snoutsville	Fantastic Fan (Kit) Which-Way Dish (Ninki) Pepper Pot (Twist) Sprout Recipe Book (Mystery, Ninki. not taken)	23 March 2011
2	14	Twist	Ninki	The Zoom Around the Moon	Lunar Lane The Spaceship The Crater The Dark Side	Fiery Flare (Ninki) Force Field (Twist) Space Helmets (Kit) Super Duper Boosters (Mystery, Kit)	24 March 2011
2	15	All	All	The Deserted Desert Dash	None	Eye Spy (Ninki) Big Ears (Twist) Nifty Nose (Kit) Magic Lamp (Mystery, shared by all) [NB all teams score equal points and are allowed to choose Mods cooperatively]	25 March 2011

In other languages

• Polish: Kwizerr
• Dutch (Flanders): Kwiskwat
• Hebrew: Hikon, Chidon, Hop! (In this version, the Kerwhizzitor is called Ron Chidon and played by Rami Tzion)
• Hungarian: Csűrcsavarosdi
• Spanish: Kerwhizz

Broadcast

• Nederlands: Ketnet
• Hebrew: Hop! Channel
• Hungarian: M2
• South Africa: M-Net
• Spanish:
• United Kingdom: CBeebies, BBC One
• United States: Tubi
• Qatar: Baraem

Reception

British psychologist Aric Sigman refers to Kerwhizz as a perfect example of what television makers claim is educational, despite his insistence to the contrary. Sigman goes on to say that "the phrase 'educational television' was, of course, invented by people who make television", "to me it's an oxymoron.".

Lawsuit

In 2011, cartoonist Michael Mitchell sued the BBC and CBeebies, claiming that Kerwhizz's human CGI characters were based on his own designs for a proposed series called The Bounce Bunch. The BBC and CBeebies denied these claims. In the England and Wales Patents County Court in December 2011, His Honour Judge Birss, QC found that the Kerwhizz characters did not infringe Mr Mitchell's copyright.

External links

• Kerwhizz at BBC Online
• Kerwhizz at IMDb