On Safari (TVS TV series)

On Safari
Genre	Children's television
Created by	Tony McLaren Tim Edmunds
Presented by	Christopher Biggins Gillian Taylforth (s. 1 only) Kim Taylforth
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	55
Production
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Production company(s)	TVS
Release
Original network	ITV
Picture format	PAL (576i)
Original release	16 February 1982 – 11 December 1984

On Safari was a children's game show series set in the jungle that was produced by TVS, and aired on the ITV network for four series from 1982 until 1984. The show was hosted by Christopher Biggins and for the first season, was co-hosted by future EastEnders actress Gillian Taylforth. Her sister Kim Taylforth also appeared in the early episodes of season 1.

All four series were recorded at the TVS studios in Southampton; although the first series was recorded in 1981, when the studios were still owned by Southern Television. TVS rented the studio space from Southern for the first series and in several editions cameras are seen bearing a generic On Safari nameplate rather than that of the production company.

Gameplay

Each week three teams (two teams in later series) consisting of a celebrity guest and a child played in a series of games in different jungle settings (i.e. swamps, venus fly traps etc.) and the team with the most points at the end of the show were the winners. The child from the winning team won a major prize, while the losing children went away with consolation prizes.

Series guide

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	16 February 1982	16 May 1982	13
2	10 September 1982	22 December 1982	16
3	3 January 1984	3 April 1984	13
4	18 September 1984	11 December 1984	13