Stars of the classic children’s television programme “Rainbow” take to the stage in a brand new Theatre show at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton on Sunday August 30th at 2.30pm
“Justin Lee-Collins may have tried to bring back “Star Wars” and “The A-Team”, but I’ve gone one better and brought back Rainbow.”
Presenter and producer Mike Newman Junior is not a man short on confidence, and having just finished a four-year run presenting a live stage version of The Sooty Show at venues from Bournemouth to Glasgow, he seems well qualified to become the custodian of a children’s show recently voted the nation’s favourite children’s TV programme of the 1980s.
Mike said: “I was immensely privileged to work with Sooty for four years, but now he’s gone on to other things. We still talk regularly on Facebook and text each other.
“But then Zippy, George and Bungle called and said ‘if Spandau Ballet are getting back together, why don’t we?”
There’s a twinkle in Mike’s eyes as he describes this unlikely scenario, and he seems to be fighting a mischievous grin.
“The show is called Zippy – Superstar DJ. He enters a DJ competition, and when he wins, it’s obvious he’s going to become a superstar.
“The show is about him preparing for the competition, leaving the Rainbow house and going off into the big, wide world. Zippy likes music and DJ-ing. In fact, he likes noise – full stop. If there’s a party going on, he has to be there. He just loves being the centre of attention,” said Mike.
“He just loves anything exciting, such as white water rafting, abseiling, skiing and bungee jumping, although whether he’s actually ever done any of these remains a mystery!”
As for Mike’s role in the Rainbow house, a place taken to the hearts of millions of children, he said: “I’m hoping to take over where Geoffrey Hayes left off – trying, and failing, to keep order in the Rainbow house!
“Zippy gets excited, George gets flustered and things pretty soon descend into mayhem and chaos. It’s not your average bachelor pad,” said Mike.
The son of comic Mike Newman, Mike Jnr spent a “privileged and very fun” childhood, watching his father at work on the set of TV game show 3, 2, 1 or at countless summer shows across the UK with Russ Abbot, Bobby Davro, Little and Large and being chased around the garden of the family home in Bournemouth by Freddie Starr.
“Zippy Superstar DJ” will be appearing at Floral Pavilion on 30th August at 2.30pm tickets are available from www.floralpavilion.com or by calling 0151 666 0000
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