So - what's the story? (Balamory)

Member Name: kingfisher111

Product:	Balamory
Date:	30/09/08 (381 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun stories and songs for young children

Disadvantages: weak acting and singing

If you have small children, it won't be long before you become familiar with all manner of programmes and characters on the cbeebies TV channel especially as the programmes seem to be shown on a bit of a loop. You might find yourself watching one more than once in the day. One such programme that is often on over a lunchtime is Balamory when my daughter is having a bit of quiet time (and so is Mummy!).

I am in two minds as to what I think about Balamory especially as my daughter loves the programme. It was made between 2002 and 2005 and is based on the fictional island community of Balamory. It was actually filmed in the town of Tobermory on the isle of Mull. Balamory is a small town and one of the most noticeable things about it are all the wonderful different coloured houses.

The main character is Miss Hoolie (played by Julie Wilson Nimmo) who runs the Balamory Nursery. She and the children there are often visited by any of the seven other main characters in the programme. They each live in different coloured houses and often wear the colour of that house too so they are all very easily identifiable. These characters are:

PC Plum (white house)
Spencer the painter (orange)
Archie the inventor (pink)
Edie McCready (blue)
Josie Jump (yellow)
Suzy Sweet and Penny Pockett (red)

Each of these characters have certain things that they do such as Edie drives the Balamory mini bus and Penny and Suzy run the shop and cafe. They all have their own songs that they sing that tells you more about what they do.

Each episode seems to follow a basic format although some are started in the nursery and others, if it's a 'play day', start from the cafe. They always say what the weather is like and then we get on to the main part of the story. Usually there is a problem which leads to the characters visiting each other in order to find a solution. Every time they meet they ask the question 'What's the story in Balamory?' and a whole load of bubbles fill the screen. Also, when they visit each other they all sing a song which asks 'which colour house am I going to?'
By the end of each programme, the problem is always sorted and everyone is happy.

There is a lot that is very good about this series and in many ways it's a shame that it was axed. The setting is beautiful and it's lovely to see views of the sea on the programme. The strong association with colours is also very good and will obviously help reinforce young children's recognition of colours. The stories are also quite good fun and there is a lot of retelling during the programme which will help young children to fully understand what is going on. My three year old daughter is always very happy when she hears the familiar sound of the opening credits.

It's also very good that there is a lot of music and singing in the stories and the songs soon become quite familiar. My daughter loves joining in with most of them. However, the songs are also where some of my problems with the series start because I really do feel that some of the actors can't sing for toffee! You do tend to cringe a bit when you have to listen to some of them (not all) as you hear the songs over and over again!

This leads me on to the acting and some of it is so wooden it's not true. I do think that the worst culprit is Archie (played by Miles Jupp - no offence to him as I'm sure he must be a very nice man!) who is so wooden he's like a plank! I don't think it helps that he plays a really stupid character who is meant to come up with wonderful inventions using things like yoghurt pots and pieces of string. Although I think he is the worst, quite a lot of the acting leaves a lot to be desired! This is my adult's perspective though and I have to say that the quality of the acting does not bother my three year old at all!

Also, I do have a slight issue with authenticity and again what I am going to say will not bother a child at all! It's wonderful that the nursery shows a really good multicultural mix of children attending and I think this gives a good message. However, I do question whether this ethnic mix would really be found on a remote scottish island? Probably not but I expect I'm just being picky!

Overall though, it's a reasonably good programme for pre school children to be watching. It's lively and colourful with fun stories and singalong songs. My three year old definitely enjoys watching although it's not her favourite and she does not show any interest in all the associated merchandise you can buy!

Balamory can be seen on Cbeebies at least twice a day. We normally watch it at 12 noon.

Summary: A good programme for pre school children