Smith and Goody

Smith and Goody is a children's sketch show on ITV from the 1980s. It was made for the ITV network by Thames Television. It starred, and was written by Mel Smith (at the time, part of the Not The Nine O'Clock News show on BBC2) and Bob Goody, with music provided by Peter Brewis. As well as being a comedy, the series had tried to advocate literature. It was set in a flat in which books, newspapers and magazines were in abundance and the sketches were designed to encourage young people to enjoy reading.

Smith and Goody, one short and the other very tall, made for the stereotypical double-act partnership, and had worked together since meeting at drama school, putting together a joint production at the 1977 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

There was a Christmas Special, Smith And Goody On Ice, which largely abandoned the educational book-led format in favour of a bunch of sketches and running about.

The opening credits began with cartoon renditions of the presenters engaged in a friendly exchange:
Mel: Whatcha Bob
Bob: Whatcha Mel
Mel: Whatcha been up to?
Bob: Can't you tell?
Bob: I've been having a look at a book mate
Bob: I've been taking a squint at the print
Bob: I've been thumbing through the pages of a paperback a day
Bob: and I'll tell you something more if you're in-ter-es-ted
The chorus went something like:
"Good books, bad books,funny books, never been had books"
"Good books, bad books, funny books, never been had books"
There's a book about a plane that disappeared without a trace,"
There's a book about a man who came from outer space"
Mel: Tell you what, Bob. What's next?

• Comedy Guide - Smith And Goody at bbc.co.uk
• https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/sound-vision-november-1980/
• Smith & Goody at IMDb

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