Presented by CBBC favourites, Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, the rejuvenated series will retain a madcap mix of jaw dropping magic, laugh out loud comedy, music, games, and silly studio sitcom but with a modern twist.
‘Take a Letter’ returns as does ‘Double or Drop’ in which kids get plucked from the audience to answer questions and go head to head to win prizes – or cabbages if they get it wrong – along with the money-can’t-buy Crackerjack! pencil.
There are new games, Splatterjack, Stickly Come Dancing, and Piedentity Parade, plus variety acts from around the world, pop performances from chart topping bands and a huge karaoke singalong at the end of the show.
The Crackerjack! players, a rotating group of sketch actors, perform comedy routines and in the first show there’s guest appearances from vlogger Yammy, WWE wrestling stars Tyler Bate and Trent Seven, and Chaser Paul Sinha amongst others.
The show was originally presented by This is Your Life’s Eamonn Andrews. He was followed by Leslie Crowther, Michael Aspel, Ed Stewart and Stu Francis who makes a return in the first episode along with Don Maclean, Bernie Clifton, Jan Hunt and Basil Brush.
Current presenters Sam and Mark are too young to remember the original series but are relishing the challenge of taking on this new series.
Sam says: “I was overwhelmed by the reaction when it was announced that it was coming back. As soon as I mention it to people older than me they all remember it, which is lovely.”
The pair are going all out to make sure that the show is, once again, essential family viewing. Mark says: “Crackerjack! was a show that kids came home from school for and watched with the family and that is what we are also striving for. It was presented by legends…. so no pressure! It ticks lots of boxes with games, sketches and fun. We want the whole family to sit down together at 6pm with their dinner on their laps and laugh all the way into the weekend.”
The show is made at MediaCityUK in Salford by BBC Children’s In-House Productions and will be on CBBC and BBC iPlayer from January 17 at 6pm.
