Numberjacks

***Numberjacks*** is a children's television series aimed at young children and is shown regularly on BBC2 and CBeebies in the UK.    It is produced by Open Mind Productions for the BBC and features a mixture of computer-generated animation and live action. It was also shown on Tiny Pop from 2013 until 2016 and on Pop from 2014 to 2015 and rarely on CITV

## Synopsis

The Numberjacks are animated characters - the numbers zero to nine - who live in a sofa and solve problems outside.  Each episode has the same structure.  At the beginning of the episode, some of the Numberjacks will be engaged in an activity that will have relevance to the problem that is later discovered.  Then an "agent" (a live-action child) will call in and describe the problem that is occurring.  One or two of the Numberjacks will go out into the real world to solve the problem, while the remaining Numberjacks stay in their base and watch their progress on a screen. As soon as the problem is understood, 5 will worry about all the things that can happen. In the second series she does not worry about the dancing cow quite so much.

Once outside, the Numberjacks are shown in a live-action setting (although still animated themselves).  They diagnose the problem by examination and with help from additional ideas from the agents, who call into the base.  The problems are usually solved by creating and sending "brain gain", a magic force that can correct the problems once the solution is understood.

Once solved, the Numberjacks return to their base, replay what happened on a screen and then ask a question for the viewers.

The problems encountered are all based around simple mathematical concepts and the programme is intended to stimulate young children's interest in mathematics.

### Camera

- Jeremy Read
- Jamie Shelton (Series 1)
- Miranda Soan
- Jamie Dodds
- Simon Silvester (Series 2)
- Leo Holba (Series 2-3)

### Production Manager

- Liz Summers
- Beatrice Adamson
- Sam Tongue

### Assistant Producer

- Hayley Boyd (DVD Version 6)
- Helen Stephens

### Production Executive

- Clare Hepper
- Sue Taylor (Series 3)

### Executive Producer For CBeebies

- Sarah Colclough

### Producer

- Roland Tongue

### Director

- Helen Shepard
- Imogen Robertson

### Heroes

The Numberjacks are the heroes.  Each of the numbers 0-9 is an individual character and each is broadly the age of his or her number. 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 are male, while 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are female.  However, the gender of the individual Numberjacks is never explicitly stated.

- 0 (lime), 1 (purple) and 2 (orange) are too young to participate in the problem solving and are usually only seen in the Numberjacks' base, although occasionally they get out and cause problems of their own.
- 3 (pink), 4 (blue), 5 (teal) and 6 (yellow) are the main characters and are the ones that solve the problems, either going out into the real world or staying and monitoring things at the base. In the past, 4 has turned into a symmetrical 4, a 5, a 6 and a 14, 3 once turned into a 4, and 6 once turned into 2 3s.
- 7 (red), 8 (azure), and 9 (green)  are older and have their own tasks, seen every now and then if they become involved in a problem.

### Villains

There are five "Meanies" who often cause trouble for people. The Problem Blob, the Puzzler and the Numbertaker are male, while the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon are female.

- **The Problem Blob** spits out green slime that causes anything it touches to suffer from a particular problem.
- **The Shape Japer** causes problems by changing the shape of objects.
- **The Puzzler** traps the Numberjacks inside a puzzle bubble or causes other problems and sets mathematical puzzles that must be solved before the problems will go away. He is arguably the most fearsome enemy of the Numberjacks, as any Numberjack unable to solve his puzzle would be trapped in a puzzle bubble for eternity.
- **Spooky Spoon** mixes things up.
- **The Numbertaker** is a white-coated live action man with an exaggerated top hat who removes numbers or numbers of things. As numbers themselves, the Numberjacks must be particularly careful when dealing with him. He uses a number sucker upper, a number grabber, a net, a magnet and a hook to take things. He rarely speaks.

## Episodes

The series is comprised of 45 15-minute episodes, which are listed here:

### Series 1 (2006–2007)

|#|Episode|Original Air date|Overview|Agents|DVD release|Running Time||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1|The Trouble With Nothing|30 October 2006|0 makes things disappear and 6 flies out to sort everything out. This is the first episode when a Numberjack makes a problem.|Agents: 33, 42, 16, 68|rowspan=2|Volume 1|14:09|
|2|Going Wrong Going Long|31 October 2006|The Problem Blob makes the boys pencil get longer and the man's mop and the boys straw. 4 sorts him out. 3 can't go out even if she's taller than 4.|Agents: 16, 28, 68, 53|13:50|||
|3|Sphere Today Gone Tomorrow|1 November 2006|The Shape Japer turns every sphere into a cube. 6 sorts her out.|Agents: 28, 33, 101, 70|Volume 2|14:05||
|4|In Out Shake It All About|2 November 2006|The Puzzler makes his eyes come out on both sides of him, making them turn, his glasses and nose on top: It's making everything outside and not in. 3 and 5 sort him out, once they are freed from the Puzzle Bubble.|Agents: 70, 94, 42, 53|Volume 1|14:00||
|5|One More Time|3 November 2006|When everyone passes under a bridge, they become one higher number: 4 turns into a 5, then 6. It's 1 that's causing all the trouble. Brain Gain changes 1's mind to make things **one less**.|Agents: 53, 28, 94, 68|Volume 2|14:05||
|6|Forward Thinking|6 November 2006|The Problem Blob is back – and things go backwards and forwards. 6 hitches a lift. This is the first appearance of The Problem Blob's eye.|Agents: 16, 33, 53, 85|rowspan=2|Volume 3|13:57|
|7|Seven Wonders|7 November 2006|4 finds things add up to 7 when the Puzzler's about, and 7 is caught by the Puzzler.|Agents: 53, 42, 70, 16|14:02|||
|8|Getting Heavy|8 November 2006|Spooky Spoon is swapping light things and heavy things – 3 has no problem in this episode.|Agents: 53, 16, 68, 85|Volume 2|13:53||
|9|Belongings|9 November 2006|Things don't belong when Spooky Spoon mixes things up – another problem for 5. In this episode, Spooky's trapped with a fork and a knife because of her last name (Spoon).|Agents: 16, 33, 68, 42|Volume 3|14:00||
|10|4 He's A Jolly Good Fellow|10 November 2006|The Numbertaker is taking all the fours he can find – will 4 be able to escape his clutches?|Agents: 28, 68, 101|rowspan=3|Volume 1|13:56|
|11|Boxing Day|13 November 2006|Boxes go wrong when the Shape Japer plays tricks – but 6 can do the trick too, when the Shape Japer puts him in a box.|Agents: 85, 33, 101, 94|14:01|||
|12|Out of Order|14 November 2006|Spooky Spoon makes sure things are well out of order – until 5 sorts her out.|Agents: 47, 96, 73, 88|14:00|||
|13|Nine Lives|15 November 2006|The Puzzler has 9 trapped in a puzzle bubble – 6 and 3 come to the rescue. In this episode, 6 turns into two 3's.|Agents: 25, 34, 88, 100|Volume 2|||
|14|Takeaway|16 November 2006|Not just a few problems, lots of them – 4 makes the Numbertaker take more than he wants to.|Agents: 28, 101, 85, 70|Volume 4|||
|15|The Cuck-Cuck-Cuck-Oo-Oo-Oo Bird|17 November 2006|The Puzzler espatilly have turns 5 into a wooden bird, he is rescue five. In the episode, doubled Numberjack in espatilly turns 5 in a bird was as a fivebird.|Agents: 14, 47, 73, 96|Volume 4|||
|16|Stop And Go|20 February 2007|Things don't move when they should, like a walking trash bin etc. – 6 has got to sort Spooky Spoon out.|Agents: 34, 52, 73, 100|Volume 7|||
|17|Off Colour|20 February 2007|Spooky Spoon wants to be the most colourful character around, by taking other yellow, red, and blue things – 4 is out to stop her.|Agents: 88, 34, 25, 100|Volume 1|||
|18|A Game Of Two Halves|21 February 2007|The Shape Japer makes half a load of trouble, and 4 has to make things whole again.|Agents: 14, 47, 73, 96|Volume 3|||
|19|Out For The Count|22 February 2007|2 is making everyone count incorrectly – 6 goes after him.|Agents: 96, 61, 100, 25|Volume 4|||
|20|The Container Drainer|23 February 2007|Everything is empty thanks to the Puzzler – 3 helps 5 to fill things up again but not without 3 getting caught by the Puzzler.|Agents: 25, 61, 96, 100|Volume 5|||
|21|Tens Moments|26 February 2007|1 and 0 get out and about and make ten of everything – creating more work for 5. Agents: 25, 52, 61, 88|Volume 7||||
|22|3 Things Good|27 February 2007|3 is out on her own trying to do battle with the Shape Japer, who does not like things in threes. 4 inset fly out to don't launch 43.|Agents: 25, 34, 88, 100|Volume 4|||
|23|**Say What You Mean**|28 February 2007|Be clear what you mean or the Problem Blob will make trouble for you, as 4 finds out. In this episode, the Problem Blob sticks on two walls and a cube-shaped bush.|Agents: 34, 47, 100, 14|Volume 5|||
|24|One Won|1 March 2007|There's only one of everything, thanks to the Numbertaker – 6 sorts things with help from 1. Agents: 55, 68, 70, 94|Volume 2||||

### Series 2 (2008-2009)

|#|Episode|Original Air Date|Overview|Agents|DVD release|Running Time|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|25|Tricky Sixes|6 October 2008|The Numbertaker likes two lots of three today – 6 is the Numberjack to sort him out.|Agents: 42, 85, 55, 68|Volume 7||
|26|**May The Fours Be With You**|5 March 2007|The Shape Japer is after things that come in eights – 4 goes on the mission. In this episode, the Shape Japer stays as a cube, and becomes a good eight at the end. Agents: 16, 42, 68, 101, Numberjacks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8|Volume 5|||
|27|Best Estimate|6 March 2007|The Problem Blob makes things go wrong when people can't estimate – 5 to the rescue. Agents: 28, 55, 70, 101 Numberjacks: 3, 4, 5, 6|Volume 2|||
|28|On and Off|9 October 2008|Spooky Spoon is mixing things up again, so instead of being on things are off – 4 is on the case.|Agents: 16, 33, 68, 85|Volume 7||
|29|Zero the Hero|10 October 2008|0 to the rescue when just for once, the Numberjacks are the problem, not the answer! Agents: 33, 55, 85|Volume 3|13:58||
|30|Bad Circles|9 March 2007|The Shape Japer is making bad circles by enter the circular hollow and say "Circle... BAD!" – 6 gets ready to sort her out. Agents: 28, 42, 70, 94|Volume 6|||
|31|Famous Fives|12 March 2007|The Puzzler sets the problem – and 5 is the right Numberjack to sort it out. Agents: 16, 42, 68, 94|Volume 6|||
|32|Fair Shares|13 March 2007|Things aren't being shared fairly, thanks to the Problem Blob – 6 makes everything all right. Agents: 28, 101, 85, 33|Volume 4|||
|33|Being 3|16 October 2008|The Numbertaker is taking threes today – but he can't take Numberjack 3;  3 turns into a 4.|Agents: 28, 55, 70, 101|Volume 3|14:09|
|34|Into the Teens|15 March 2007|The Numbertaker has added ten more than 1 – 4 has to sort him out. in the episode, 4 turns into a 14. And the Numbertaker turns into eleven Numbertakers! Agents: 33, 55, 70, 85 Numberjacks: 1, 3, 4, (14), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9|Volume 6|||
|35|Slide and Turn|16 March 2007|The Shape Japer is moving things and causing problems – 5 goes out there. Agents: 17, 41, 60, 106|TBA|||
|36|Six Of One|19 March 2007|The Problem Blob is making trouble with sixes – Numberjack 6 to the rescue. Agents: 22, 41, 60, 106|TBA|||
|37|**Time Trouble**|20 March 2007|Time passes very strangely – thanks to Spooky Spoon. 5 investigates. This is the first appearance of the Beeper. Agents: 38, 54, 79, 95|Volume 5|||
|38|1, 2, 3, Go|21 March 2007|It's 1, 2, 3 – pattern time! 3 battles with the Puzzler. Agents: 17, 54, 60, 106|TBA|||
|39|More 4|22 March 2007|The Shape Japer makes trouble with symmetry – 4 goes out to sort things out. Agents: 17, 22, 41, 38|TBA|||
|40|Almost Human|23 March 2007|The Problem Blob causes trouble – and 4 tries out being a human being. There is a special Numberjack known as the Numberjack Man (played by Steven Lim), known as 4's temporary replacement. Agents: 79, 83, 95, 106|TBA|||
|41|**Two, Four, Six, Eight**|26 March 2007|The Numbertaker takes all the even numbers – 6 and 8 fly out to put things right. Agents: 79, 54, 57, 17|Volume 5|||
|42|Round and Round|27 March 2007|The Problem Blob has gotten people going around in circles – can 5 restore things to normal? Agents: 41, 60, 83, 106|TBA|||
|43|Square Dancing|28 March 2007|The Shape Japer's about – and 1, 4, and 9 sort out problems with squares. Agents: 22, 41, 79, 95|TBA|||
|44|Data Day|29 March 2007|Spooky Spoon is mixing things up and makes things at a cafe behave like party things and vice versa – 3 gets ready to take her on. Agent: 17, 54, 60, 106|Volume 4|||
|45|How? What? Check!|30 March 2007|5 sorts out the Puzzler's problems – and checks to make sure. Agents: 22, 38, 83, 95|TBA|||
|1|**Counting Down To Christmas**|TBA|The Numbertaker, the Shape Japer, and Spooky Spoon make Christmas go wrong, and Agent 20 is one of the victims. 5 and 6 fly out and save Christmas Day with help from 3 and some other agents. In this episode, the Meanies are together. Agents: 20, 77, 49 Numberjacks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10|Volume 5 (Release Date: 24 November 2008)|||
|2|Seaside Adventure|TBA|The Numberjacks have a holiday at the beach, only to face troubles with the Meanies! Agents: 39, 91, 121, 122, 20 Numberjacks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10|Volume 6 (Release Date: 3 August 2009)|||

### Series 3 (2009)

|#|Episode|Original Air date|Overview|DVD release|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|46|**Ups and Downs**|26 October 2009|Spooky Spoon is turning everything upside down, so 8 is sent out to help 4.|TBA|
|47|**On the Move**|27 October 2009|The Problem Blob is making things move when they shouldn't, so 5 is sent out to stop him.|TBA|
|48|**Very Shapely**|28 October 2009|The Shape Japer is causing problems again by stretching the shapes of things – 6 is after her, but one problem is when two circular hoops are turned into ovals.|TBA|
|49|**Wee Three Phone Home**|29 October 2009|The Puzzler is causing some people to repeat his silly movements – 3 is sent out to stop him, and must solve three puzzles by herself as she lost contact with 4,5 and 6.|TBA|
|50|**Did You Notice Anything?**|30 October 2009|The Numbertaker is taking away people's noticing skills, and then plays tricks on them without them noticing – 4 is sent out to defeat him.|TBA|
|51|**Measured Response**|2 November 2009|Things are changing length thanks to the Shape Japer, so 6 is sent out to change them back, this is the first episode in season 2 with the appearance of **Buddy Sticks**.|TBA|
|52|**Think Again**|3 November 2009|3 and 4 are playing in the gym when 5 discovers that Spooky Spoon is mixing things up again.|TBA|
|53|**Carry On Counting**|4 November 2009|6 is sent out to do battle with the Problem Blob, who is causing people to go back to the beginning of things, sliming 6. Brain Gain helps 6.|TBA|
|54|**A Record In the Charts**|5 November 2009|4 is sent out to defeat the Puzzler, who is stopping the cafe customers from remembering whether they have had too much food or not.|TBA|
|55|**Half Time**|6 November 2009|The Numbertaker is halving the numbers of everything – 4 is sent out to stop him. In this episode, 4 turns into a 1, a 2, and an 8.|TBA|
|56|**A Close Thing**|9 November 2009|A girl can't get near her teddy, and grown ups need help with things being too close. 6 flies out to sort the Problem Blob.|TBA|
|57|**A Circle at Both Ends**|10 November 2009|3's buddy blocks become cylinders (Circle Sticks). 5 has to fly out when a boy has trouble with his chalks, thanks to the Shape Japer.|TBA|
|58|**Matchmaking**|11 November 2009|Numberjack 1 plays a trick on Numberjack 4, always making the number of buddy blocks on the seesaw unbalanced. 3 flies out to sort the Numbertaker, who takes then adds anything so they don't match.|TBA|
|59|**A Different Sort**|12 November 2009|0 and 1 are failing to help 3 sort her beautiful things. 4 flies out to stop Spooky Spoon sorting things out. In this episode, 4 becomes green, tiny, big, then _wibbly wobbly_.|TBA|
|60|**Areas of Concern**|13 November 2009|In the gym, 6 and his buddy tiles are making patterns on the floor and flying around. 6 flies out to defeat the Puzzler.|TBA|
|61|**The Dreaded Lurgi**|7 December 2009|In the gym 6 can't jump on the seesaw – and 4 feels ill too – they've both got the dreaded lurgi. 5 flies out to investigate and stop the Problem Blob from making people go **up** and **down**, **round and round**. In the meantime, 3 gets lurgi too, and agents help out.|TBA|
|62|**Fraction Fiction**|8 December 2009|3 and 4 argue over entertaining 5's buddy blocks. They try to share them but the blocks get bored and wander off. 3 flies out to beat the Shape Japer from cutting things to pieces. In this episode, the Shape Japer helps people four times.|TBA|
|63|**Interesting Times**|9 December 2009|7 tells 0 and 1 a story about 3, 4, 5, and 6 going out one after the other; to sort out morning, daytime, evening and night time things, and Spooky Spoon herself. NOTE: This is the only episode in which Numberjack Seven acts as a narrator.|TBA|
|64|**More Ways Than One**|10 December 2009|4, 5, and 6 are playing a version of Circle Slide, using different ways of moving. 4 goes out to rescue 8 who is trapped by the Puzzler by finding three ways to make an eight.|TBA|
|65|**Hundreds and Thousands**|11 December 2009|4 is in the Cosy Room taking photos of 1 and 0. A girl has a hundred or so beads to make a necklace but then has only ten, then one. 6 flies out to defeat the Numbertaker. In this episode, the sent Brain Gain is used by a hundred agents' thousand fingers.|TBA|

## Other websites

- Numberjacks page at Open Mind Productions

## Infobox (television)

- **image**: Numberjacks logo.png
- **genre**: Educational television, Educational
- **creator**: Chris Ellis
- **theme music composer**: Justin Nicholls
- **opentheme**: "The Numberjacks Are On Their Way"
- **endtheme**: "The Numberjacks Are On Their Way" (Reprise)
- **composer**: Justin Nicholls
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **language**: English
Walsh (Series 1-2)
- **num seasons**: 3
- **num episodes**: 65
- **executive producer**: Sarah Colclough (CBeebies)
- **producer**: Roland Tongue
- **editor**: Chris Bezant, Simon Ruben, Simon Warner
- **camera**: Jeremy Read
Jamie Shelton (Series 1)
Miranda Soan
Jamie Dodds
Simon Sylvester (Series 2)
Leo Holba (Series 2-3)
- **runtime**: 15 minutes per episode (approx.)
- **company**: Open Mind Productions