ZZZap!

The programme mostly followed the same format throughout its run. A title intro is shown consisting of a couple of short clips for each character from the series. It is then followed by a series of short two- or three-minute-long segments, followed by the credits.

For Series 1–9, each segment was introduced by the camera zooming in on a corresponding panel on a giant comic, shot in reverse (e.g. the camera starting at the panel, and pulling back into a wide shot), which was reversed in post-production; this technique was done to aid the camera operator in aligning the camera squarely with the panel, which was especially important with Cuthbert Lilly and Smart Arty sketches, where the exact same panel graphic often physically existed on set in some form. This giant comic has a set of nine frames on it, some of which contain a character representing their segments. For Series 10, the aforementioned comic transitions were replaced with a CGI roulette of the panels.

The show was designed with deaf children in mind,{{cite web|url=http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/leisure/freetimefeatures/9398764.Art_Attack_star_in_St_Albans/|title=Art Attack star in St Albans}} and so the style of the show is predominantly visual, with the sound only providing music and effects. The audience in "The Handymen" segments would also often sign clapping instead of actually clapping.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJYB134H-4g|time=7:35|title=Zzzap! – CITV |year=1998|via=YouTube}}

The introduction to Series 1 was filmed in Chequers Shopping Centre in Maidstone showing a boy buying a copy of a comic called "ZZZap!" from a newsagent. The comic contains a 'Free TV Zapper!' which he uses only to find that the comic has increased to an enormous 18 ft size. This introduction was abandoned from series 2 onwards, which instead showed the giant comic and then introduced each of the characters with a short video. Some computer generated additions were made in series 8, and transitions were wholly computer generated by series 10. The closing titles also changed between series.

{{main|List of ZZZap! episodes}}

{{:List of ZZZap! episodes}}

The series was more recently broadcast on the CITV channel in 2006, 2007 and 2009. There were plans to broadcast the programme as part of CITV's 30th anniversary in January 2013, but this did not go ahead due to licensing issues.{{cite tweet |last1=Bowen |first1=Matt |user=bowenmatt |title=Hiya, both [Zzzap and EMU/Pink Windmill] were on the shortlist, but we couldn't get hold of the rights in time. Hopefully plenty more to make up for it! |date=5 January 2013 |number=287707305875746816 |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}

The Smart Arty elements and The Handymen were repeated in the US and Canada as part of It's Itsy Bitsy Time on Fox Family and Treehouse TV, respectively, with Smart Arty being renamed to "Art to Art with Arty Art". The segments ran from 1999 until 2001.

ZZZap! was also screened on TVOntario in Canada in its original format, alongside the runs on It's Itsy Bitsy Time.

The series was also broadcast on the local military forces television networks BFBS and SSVC Television as part of their children's programming blocks Children's SSVC and Room 785. The network was shown on television transmissions in Germany, Belize, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

{{Main|List of Zzzap! characters}}

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• ZZZap! The Bumper Video Comic (VHS)
• ZZZap! Vol. 2 – Holiday Special (VHS)
• ZZZap! Vol. 3 – Goes Bonkers (VHS)
• ZZZap! Vol. 4 – Goes Completely Crazy (VHS)
• The Wildest Ever ZZZap! Video (VHS)

The series mainly uses library music for most of the background music. The theme tune is Keystone Chaos, composed by Ron Aspery, from the KPM library. The background music used in the majority of The Handymen sketches is Memories of the Music Hall, composed by Roger Webb, from the De Wolfe Music Library.

Track(s) used from the Music House Library (KPM Music) for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Candid Camera ({{Abbr|MHE|Music House Entertainment}} 3): "Vintage Hollywood" by Alan Hawkshaw
• Children's Hour ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 147): "Animal Capers" by Tony Kinsey
• Comedy & Animation Volume I ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 367): "Busy Days"
• Comedy Classics ({{Abbr|MHS|Music House Specifics}} 13): "English Country Garden", "He'd Have To Get Under"
• Comedy Classics 1 ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 131): "Banana Skin", "Bundle Of Fun", "Goodbye Rodney", "Jobsworth", "Morning Darling!", "Roll Up! Roll Up!", "Round the Bend", "Tea Dance", "What A Cheek!"
• Comedy Situations ({{Abbr|MHE|Music House Entertainment}} 31): "Clowns", "Comedy Rag", "Toytown"
• Tiny Tots ({{Abbr|MHS|Music House Specifics}} 19): "Pony Trotting"
• Whimsy ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 87): "Happy Rag (a)"

Track(s) used from the Parry Music Library (BMG Production Music) for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• The Comedy Collection ({{Abbr|PML|Parry Music Library}} 016): "Follies"

Track(s) used from The London Theatre Orchestra for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Great Sports Themes ({{Abbr|EMPRCD|Emporio (Demon Music Group)}} 715): "Match Of The Day (Offside)"

Track(s) used from the Carlin Library CD's (Warner Chappell Production Music) for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Wurlitzer and Mechanical Organs ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 106): "King Cotton "
• Acoustic/Woodbind/Brass ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 162): "The Jolly Parade"
• Children/Comedy/Shorts ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 156): "Happy Oompah"
• Children/Comedy/Shorts 2 ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 176): "Toy Car"
• Comedy/Cartoon/Children ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 136): "Circus Clowns", "Coach Trip", "Fred Scuttle", "Jugglers", "Sax Of Fun", "Shark Alert"
• Comedy/TV/Entertainment ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 257): "Circus Rag"
• Fun/Novelty/Kids ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 237): "Captain Country", "Stop That Sax"
• Light-Hearted & Fun ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 144): "Ben Hill Billy", "String Holiday"
• Solo Piano - Popular Styles ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 143): "Green Tulips"
• The History of Jazz (Small Groups) ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 148): "Julliette"

Track(s) used from Sonoton Music (APM Music) for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Comic Collection 4: Period Slapstick ({{Abbr|SCD|Sonoton Music}} 165): "Dapper Flapper", "Rag 'n Bone", "Rattle Them Bones", "Scotch On The Rocks", "Supper At The Savoy"

Track(s) used from the De Wolfe Library for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Loony Tunes ({{Abbr|DWCD|De Wolfe Music}} 0254): "Jangle Man", "The Clowns Are In Town"

Track(s) used from FirstCom Music (Universal Production Music) for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Funny Situations ({{Abbr|FC|FirstCom Music}} S72): "Make It Stop Ok?"

Track(s) used from BMG Production Music on RCA Label for Cuthbert Lilly sketches:

• Silent Movie Era ({{Abbr|RCAL|RCA Label}} 1021): "Whistle Stop"

Track(s) used for Tricky Dicky sketches:

• Archive - Famous Themes Revisited 1 ({{Abbr|CHAP|Chappell Recorded Music Library}} 185): "Devil's Galop" by Charles Williams
• Cartoon/Comedy/Children ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 150): "Friendly Panther"

Track(s) used for The Handymen sketches:

• Come Dancing by Sam Fonteyn ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 1151): "Love In June", "The Mirabelle Waltz", "The Silver Ballroom"
• Fun/Novelty/Kids ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 237): "Seaside Piano"
• Memories Of The Music Hall by Roger Webb ({{Abbr|DWCD|De Wolfe Music}} 0082): "After The Ball", "Daisy Bell", "I'll Be Your Sweetheart", "Lily Of Laguna", "Memories Of The Music Hall", "Old Time Waltz", "Schoft-schoe Schottische", "The Honeysuckle And The Bee", "Why Am I Always The Bridesmaid?"
• Period Pieces/Hotel Ballroom ({{Abbr|BMLP|Berry Music Conroy}} 111): "Quick Waltz"
• Victoriana (Parts 1 and 2) ({{Abbr|KPMLP|KPM Music Vinyl}} 1116): "Tea Dance"
• Victorian/Edwardian ({{Abbr|CHAP|Chappell Recorded Music Library}} 149): "Debutants Ball", "Lady Windermere"

Track(s) used for Smart Arty sketches:

• Classical String Quartet ({{Abbr|CHAP|Chappell Recorded Music Library}} 141): "Boccherini-Minuet No. 5 In E Major" by Luigi Boccherini

Track(s) used for Daisy Dares You sketches:

• Loony Tunes ({{Abbr|BR|Bruton Music}}28 BRF10): "Pocket Full Of Peanuts", "Keyboard Wizzard"

Track(s) used for Minnie The Mini Magician sketches:

• Comedy and Animation Volume 1 ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 367): "Jolly Good"
• Comedy Classics 1 ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 131): "Exit Stage Left", "Half O'Shanty"
• Comedy/TV/Entertainment ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 257): "Sitcom Tune"
• Fun/Novelty/Kids ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 237): "Custard Pie"
• Lite Whimsy ({{Abbr|SCD|Sonoton Music}} 397): "Biscuit's Bounce";
• Loony Tunes ({{Abbr|DWCD|De Wolfe Music}} 0254): "Jumping Around", "Pizzicato Bliss"
• Melody All The Way ({{Abbr|JW|JW Music Library}} 480): "Big Bad Ballad_30"
• Sunny Jim ({{Abbr|DWLP|De Wolfe Vinyl}} 3437): "Dimple"
• TOPSY TURVY ({{Abbr|DWCD|De Wolfe Music}} 0016): "Hello Cheeky", "Snakes and Ladders", "Tea Break", "Topsy Turvy" by Jack Trombey

Track(s) commonly used for Filler Panels (Question Mark/Dot-to-Dot/Eye Segments, etc):

• Comedy Situations ({{Abbr|MHE|Music House Entertainment}} 31): "Pink Python" by Mo Foster
• Comedy Situations 2 ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 132): "Drag"
• Off The Wall ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 146): "Cluedo"

Track(s) used for the Zzzap Summer Specials and Christmas Annual sketches:

• Children/Well Known Tunes 2 ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 208): "Sailor's Hornpipe"
• Christmas, Kids & Comedy ({{Abbr|ATMOS|Atmosphere}}15 3): "Christmas Celebration", "Xmas Cracker"
• Comedy Classics ({{Abbr|MHS|Music House Specifics}} 13): "I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside (1)", "Jingle Bells"
• Comic Cuts ({{Abbr|BR|Bruton Music}} 0026): "Jolly Jack Tar", "PC Plonker"
• Happy-Go-Lucky ({{Abbr|FC|FirstCom Music}} S29): "Take Me Out"
• The Spirit Of Christmas ({{Abbr|KPM|KPM Music}} 1213): "We Wish You A Merry Christmas (B)"
• The World of Christmas ({{Abbr|CAR|Carlin Recorded Music Library}} 229): "Jingle Bells"

==References==

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0454759|title=ZZZap!}}
• [https://zzzapcomic.wordpress.com/ ZZZap! Comic fansite]

Category:1993 British television series debuts

Category:2001 British television series endings

Category:1990s British children's television series

Category:2000s British children's television series

Category:ITV children's television shows

Category:Fictional comics

Category:Television shows about comics

Category:Television series by ITV Studios

Category:Television shows produced by Meridian Broadcasting

Category:Television series by Mattel Television

Category:ITV sketch shows

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:Deaf culture in the United Kingdom

Category:Arts and crafts television series