Numberjacks

Numberjacks

The ten Numberjacks, seen in Zero the Hero
Written by Chris Ellis
Starring Dylan Robertson (voices of Zero and One),
Robert Watson (voice of Two),
Alice Baker (voice of Three),
Jonathan Beech (voice of Four),
Laura Maasland (voice of Five),
Oliver Keogh (voice of Six),
Roz Ellis (voices of Seven and Nine),
Harry Munday (voice of Eight),
Bob Golding
(voices of the Problem Blob and the Puzzler),
Rachel Preece
(voices of the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon),
Ross Mullan (as the Numbertaker)
Music by Justin Nicholls
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 67 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 15 minutes
(Seaside Adventure: 45 minutes)
Production company(s) Open Mind Productions
Release
Original network BBC Two
CBeebies
Original release 16 October 2006 – 11 December 2009
External links
Website www.numberjacks.co.uk

Numberjacks is a British children's television series that originally aired on CBeebies on BBC Two in the UK between October 2006[1] and 2009, and on the CBeebies channel also. It was first shown on BBC Two at 10am on 16 October 2006. It was then repeated on CBeebies at 11am and 3pm on the same day. BBC Two only showed it for a week due to the half term break and then the future episodes were shown on CBeebies at 11am. Re-runs of the episodes were shown regularly on CBeebies (when it was on BBC2, it was only on occasionally, and when it first appeared, it was only on for a week) until October 2015. It was produced by Open Mind Productions for the BBC and features a mixture of computer-generated animation and live-action. The shows has a swing of science fiction in it, as the Numbers take residence in a couch in a house, everything around them moves of its own accord, and humans must be scarce at launching time.

Synopsis

The Numberjacks are animated characters (the numbers 0 to 9) who live in an ordinary sofa and solve problems outside; each episode has the same structure. At the beginning of the episode, some of the Numberjacks are engaged in an activity, that would have relevance to the problem that is later discovered - then, an "agent" (who was a live-action child) calls in and describes the problem that is occurring. One (or two) of the Numberjacks go out into the real world to solve the problem while the remaining Numberjacks stay in the sofa and watch their progress on a screen. As soon as the problem is understood, Five imagines what else could go wrong if the problem wasn't solved (often wondering what would happen to the Dancing Cow, who never actually made any physical appearance in the real world).

Once outside, the Numberjacks are shown in a live-action setting (although themselves still animated); they diagnose their problems by examination, and with help from additional ideas from the agents, who call into the base. The problem can either be caused by one of the antagonists, or one of the younger Numberjacks (Zero, One or Two) escaping from the sofa and inadvertently making things go wrong. Problems are solved by using "Brain Gain," a magical force of power activated by use of a machine in the sofa and transferred to the Numberjack.

Once the problem is solved, the Numberjacks return to their base, replay what happened on a screen and then challenge the viewer to think about a related problem and "call the Numberjacks"; the problems encountered are all based upon simple mathematical concepts, and the programme is intended to stimulate young children's interest in mathematics. On satellite, digital, and cable TV, a link to Numberjacks often appeared in the corner of the screen and sometimes on (for example) gardening programmes as a way of helping people with basic numeracy.

Characters

Protagonists

The Numberjacks are the heroes; each of the numbers 0 through 9 is an individual character and each is broadly the age of his or her number. The male Numberjacks are even numbers and the female Numberjacks are odd numbers - however, One is voiced by a male actor (Dylan Robertson, who also voices Zero).

Antagonists

There are five evil villains, the "Meanies", who often cause trouble for people; the Problem Blob, the Puzzler and the Numbertaker are male villains, while the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon are female villains. Spooky Spoon also seems to appear more often than any of the other Meanies.

Episode list

The first series, consisting of 45 15-minute episodes, was premiered on BBC Two on 16 October 2006, while the second one, consisting of 20 15-minute episodes, was premiered on CBeebies in 2009; both "specials" were also exclusive to DVD.[2]

# Episode Original Air date Overview DVD release
Series 1 (2006-2007)
1 The Trouble With Nothing 16 October 2006 Zero makes things disappear and Six flies out to sort everything out.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Agents: 33, 42, 16, 68

Volume 1
2 Going Wrong, Going Long 17 October 2006 The Problem Blob is making things longer, so Four flies out to stop the blob.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 16, 28, 68, 53

Volume 1
3 Sphere Today Gone Tomorrow 18 October 2006 Six flies out when the Shape Japer is turning spheres into cubes.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 28, 33, 101, 70

Volume 2
4 In, Out, Shake It All About 19 October 2006 Things that should be inside end up outside - Five takes Three out there to help sort the Puzzler out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 70, 94, 42, 53

Volume 1
5 One More Time 20 October 2006 When One goes out alone there's one more of everything - Four rides the railway to the rescue.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Agents: 53, 28, 94, 68

Volume 2
6 Forward Thinking 23 October 2006 The Problem Blob is back - making things go backwards and forwards. Six hitches a lift.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 16, 33, 53, 85

Volume 3
7 Seven Wonders 24 October 2006 Four finds things add up to seven when the Puzzler's about, with a kidnapped Seven.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 53, 42, 70, 16

Volume 3
8 Getting Heavy 25 October 2006 Spooky Spoon is making light things heavy - Five and Three fly out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 53, 16, 68, 85

Volume 2
9 Belongings 26 October 2006 Things don't belong when Spooky Spoon mixes things up - another problem for Five.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 16, 33, 68, 42

Volume 3
10 4 He's A Jolly Good Fellow 27 October 2006 The Numbertaker is taking all the fours he can find - will Four escape his clutches?

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 28, 68, 101

Volume 1
11 Boxing Day 30 October 2006 Boxes go wrong when the Shape Japer plays tricks - but Six can do the trick too!

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 85, 33, 101, 94

Volume 1
12 Out of Order 31 October 2006 Spooky Spoon makes sure things are well out of order - until Five sorts her out.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 47, 96, 73, 88

N/A
13 Nine Lives 1 November 2006 The Puzzler has Nine trapped in a puzzle bubble - Six and Three come to the rescue.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine
Meanie: ????
Agents: 25, 34, 88, 100

Volume 2
14 Takeaway 2 November 2006 Not just a few problems, lots of them - Four makes the Numbertaker take more than he wants to.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 28, 101, 85, 70

Volume 4
15 The Cuck-Cuck-Cuck-Oo-Oo-Oo Bird 3 November 2006 There's a pattern to the problems the Puzzler causes - and Five has to break that pattern.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 14, 47, 73, 96

Volume 4
16 Stop And Go 19 February 2007 Things don't move when they should - Six has got to sort Spooky Spoon out.

Numberjacks: Zero Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 34, 52, 73, 100

N/A
17 Off Colour 20 February 2007 Spooky Spoon wants to be the most colourful character around - Four is out to stop her.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 88, 34, 25, 100

Volume 1
18 A Game Of Two Halves 21 February 2007 The Shape Japer makes half a load of trouble, and Four has to make things whole again.

Numberjacks: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 14, 47, 73, 96

Volume 3
19 Out For The Count 22 February 2007 Two is out and about and making everyone count wrongly - Six is after him.

Numberjacks: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Agents: 96, 61, 100, 25

Volume 4
20 The Container Drainer 23 February 2007 Everything is empty thanks to the Puzzler - Three helps Five to fill things up again, until Three gets kidnapped by the Puzzler.

Numberjacks: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: ????
Agents: 96, 61, 100, 25

Volume 5
21 Tens Moments 26 February 2007 One and Zero get out and about and make ten of everything - Five has got more work to do.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Agents: 25, 52, 61, 88

N/A
22 3 Things Good 27 February 2007 Three is out on her own trying to do battle with the Shape Japer, who does not like things in threes.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 25, 34, 88, 100

NOTE: This is the only episode where Five's imagination does not happen.

Volume 4
23 Say What You Mean 28 February 2007 Be clear what you mean or the Problem Blob will make trouble for you, as Four finds out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 34, 47, 100, 14

Volume 5
24 One Won 1 March 2007 The Numbertaker is making everything just one of them- Six sorts things with help from One.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 55, 68, 70, 94

Volume 2
25 Tricky Sixes 2 March 2007 The Numbertaker likes two lots of three today - Six is the Numberjack to sort him out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 42, 85, 55, 68

N/A
26 May The Fours Be With You 5 March 2007 The Shape Japer is after things that come in eights - Four goes on the mission.

Numberjacks: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 16, 42, 68, 101

Volume 5
27 Best Estimate 6 March 2007 The Problem Blob makes things go wrong when people can't estimate - Five to the rescue.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 28, 55, 70, 101

Volume 2
28 On and Off 7 March 2007 Spooky Spoon is mixing things up again, so instead of being on things are off - Four is on the case.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 16, 33, 68, 85

N/A
29 Zero the Hero 8 March 2007 Zero comes to the rescue when just for once, all the other nine Numberjacks are the problem and not the answer!

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Agents: 33, 55, 85

Volume 3
30 Bad Circles 9 March 2007 The Shape Japer is making bad circles - Six is ready to sort her out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 28, 42, 70, 94

Volume 6
31 Famous Fives 12 March 2007 The Puzzler sets the problem - and Five is the right Numberjack to sort it out.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 16, 42, 68, 94

Volume 6
32 Fair Shares 13 March 2007 Things aren't being shared fairly, thanks to the Problem Blob - Six makes everything all right.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 28, 101, 85, 33

Volume 4
33 Being 3 14 March 2007 The Numbertaker is taking threes today - but he can't take Numberjack Three!

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: he Numbertaker
Agents: 28, 55, 70, 101

Volume 3
34 Into the Teens 15 March 2007 The Numbertaker adds ten more things - Four has to sort him out.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 33, 55, 70, 85

Volume 6
35 Slide and Turn 16 March 2007 The Shape Japer is moving things and causing problems - Five goes out there.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 17, 41, 60, 106

N/A
36 Six Of One 19 March 2007 The Problem Blob is making trouble with sixes - Numberjack Six to the rescue.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 22, 41, 60, 106

N/A
37 Time Trouble 20 March 2007 Time passes very strangely - thanks to Spooky Spoon. Five investigates.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 38, 54, 79, 95

NOTE: This is the first appearance of the Beeper (a timing device).

Volume 5
38 1, 2, 3, Go 21 March 2007 It's 1, 2, 3 - pattern time! Three battles with the Puzzler.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 17, 54, 60, 106

NOTE: This is the only episode where the Brain Gain machine was never used.

N/A
39 More 4 22 March 2007 The Shape Japer makes trouble with symmetry - Four goes out to sort things out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 17, 22, 41, 38

N/A
40 Almost Human 23 March 2007 The Problem Blob causes trouble, with Four getting slimed and having to be a human, and the man sitting on the table getting the behaviours of a Numberjack!

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 79, 83, 95, 106

N/A
41 Two, Four, Six, Eight 26 March 2007 The Numbertaker takes all the even numbers (except the zeroes) - Six and Eight fly out to put things right.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 79, 54, 57, 17

Volume 5
42 Round and Round 27 March 2007 The Problem Blob has gotten people going around in circles - can Five restore things to normal?

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 41, 60, 83, 106

N/A
43 Square Dancing 28 March 2007 The Shape Japer's about - and One, Four, and Nine sort out problems with squares.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 22, 41, 79, 95

N/A
44 Data Day 29 March 2007 Spooky Spoon is mixing things up - Three gets ready to take her on.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 17, 54, 60, 106

Volume 4
45 How? What? Check! 30 March 2007 Five sorts out the Puzzler's problems - and checks to make sure.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 22, 38, 83, 95

N/A
Series 1 Specials
46 Counting Down To Christmas N/A In this DVD exclusive episode; The Numbertaker, the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon work together to make Christmas go wrong with Agent 20 being one of the victims. Five and Six fly out and save Christmas Day with help from Three in the gym, and Agents 49 and 77.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanies: The Shape Japer, Spooky Spoon, the Numbertaker
Agents: 20, 77, 49

NOTE: In this episode, three of the Meanies work together.

Volume 5 (Release date: 24 November 2008)
47 Seaside Adventure N/A The Numberjacks have a holiday at the beach, only to face troubles with all the five Meanies!

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanies: The Problem Blob, the Shape Japer, the Puzzler, Spooky Spoon, the Numbertaker
Agents: 39, 91, 121, 122, 20

NOTE: This is a 45-minute special, and all five of the Meanies work together.

Volume 6 (Release date: 3 August 2009)
Series 2 (2009) [2]
48 Ups and Downs 26 October 2009 Some upside down adventures as Four sorts out Spooky Spoon – with a little help from Eight.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 18, 37, 58

N/A
49 On the Move 27 October 2009 People keep counting when they don’t need to - thanks to the Problem Blob. Five sorts things out.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 81, 44, 63

N/A
50 Very Shapely 28 October 2009 The Shape Japer is into extreme shapes – Six gets busy sorting things out.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 99, 72, 27

N/A
51 Wee Three Phone Home 29 October 2009 The Puzzler sets a puzzle, and Three is up to the challenge, with a little help from Seven, Eight and Nine.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 108, 12, 63

N/A
52 Did You Notice Anything? 30 October 2009 The Numbertaker’s causing problems, but strangely people don’t notice. Four to the rescue.

Numberjacks: Zero, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 81, 108, 27

N/A
53 Measured Response 2 November 2009 The Shape Japer’s changing the lengths of things – Six and his buddy sticks are on the case.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 72, 44, 37

N/A
54 Think Again 3 November 2009 Sometimes it's good to think again, as Five discovers when she’s dealing with Spooky Spoon's latest stirrings.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 58, 63, 99

N/A
55 Carry On Counting 4 November 2009 People need to carry on counting, not start again – Six sorts out the Problem Blob.

Numberjacks: Zero, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 12, 108, 81

N/A
56 A Record In The Charts 5 November 2009 People need more information – so Four goes out there battling with the Puzzler.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 27, 72, 44

N/A
57 Half Time 6 November 2009 The Numbertaker is halving the number of things – Four is out there at the double.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 37, 58, 99

N/A
58 A Close Thing 9 November 2009 The Problem Blob keeps putting things in the wrong position – Six is the Numberjack for the job.

Numberjacks: Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 58, 37, 18

N/A
59 A Circle at Both Ends 10 November 2009 The Shape Japer is having fun with cylinders - Five to the rescue.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 44, 63, 81

N/A
60 Matchmaking 11 November 2009 Numbers don’t match when the Numbertaker's about - until Three saves the day.

Numberjacks: One, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 99, 72, 27

N/A
61 A Different Sort 12 November 2009 Spooky Spoon is jumping things about – and Four is the one to sort her out.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 12, 108, 63

N/A
62 Areas of Concern 13 November 2009 The Puzzler is making things bigger and smaller – Six and his buddy tiles save the day.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 18, 37, 99

N/A
63 The Dreaded Lurgi 7 December 2009 Five to the rescue when things are going up and down and round and round, all thanks to the Problem Blob.

Numberjacks: Zero, Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Problem Blob
Agents: 58, 81, 18, 12, 72, 44, 99, 37, 108, 63

N/A
64 Fraction Action 8 December 2009 The Shape Japer is splitting things into fractions, and Three is on the case.

Numberjacks: Three, Four, Five, Six
Meanie: The Shape Japer
Agents: 12, 44, 72

N/A
65 Interesting Times 9 December 2009 Seven tells the story to Zero and One of how Three, Four, Five and Six had to sort out day and night when Spooky Spoon mixed things up.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven
Meanie: Spooky Spoon
Agents: 37, 58, 99

N/A
66 More Ways Than One 10 December 2009 When the Puzzler bubbles Eight, Four has to find three different ways making eight to release him.

Numberjacks: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Puzzler
Agents: 27, 63, 18

N/A
67 Hundreds and Thousands 11 December 2009 Six saves the day when the Numbertaker is taking hundreds and thousands.

Numberjacks: Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
Meanie: The Numbertaker
Agents: 44, 81, 108

N/A

Awards

  • Awarded Best Schools Programme - 0-5 Years (for the episode "Nine Lives")[3]
  • Awarded Best Schools Programme - 0-5 Years (for the episode "Zero the Hero")[4]

UK DVD Releases

Numberjacks Are On Their Way (Volume 1) (Early issues of this volume have Three, Four and Five watching Six on a TV and Two in the Brain Gain (despite appearing in these episodes) on the cover)

Calling All Agents! (Volume 2)

Standing By To Zoom! (Volume 3) (This volume also contained a special free Christmas CD, which was released in December 2007)

Brain Gain! (Volume 4) (Early issues of this volume have 5 in the centre of the cover while later reissues have 4 instead)

Counting Down To Christmas! (Volume 5)

Seaside Adventure (Volume 6)

Other merchandise

References

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