Top Banana
Top Banana was another children’s TV show which aired really early on a Saturday morning, on ITV in the UK.
It was a gameshow set in a jungle, and you could get an easy question by asking for “a piece of cake” - the kicker being that you would have to answer while eating a piece of cake, with your mouth full. Classic.
Any losers would also be given a piece of cake by a girl called Peanut.
If you got to the top of the mountain at the end, and grabbed the golden banana (which was dangling on a string, presumably being pulled from your grasp by a crew member!) you would win a water pistol or something.
Top Banana was hosted by an Australian called Mike Brosnan, who is no relation of Piers (James Bond) Brosnan.
I used to love Top Banana.
The show only actually ran for 26 episodes in 1990, but it is a fixture in my hazy recollection of childhood days!
i was on top banana,many years ago and have never got to see it,do you know where i can get some screen shots?
Hi Robert,
I’ve written to TV-am to ask about screen shots on your behalf, but if you would like to contact them yourself, you should e-mail: info@tv-am.org.uk or ring the telephone enquiry line on 05602 430269 (9am - 2pm).
Good luck and let us know if you’re successful.
Regards,
The Popular Nostalgia Team
This was the show where you had to spin a wheel and a voice would say “Top Banana”,right?
I’ve had it in my head for years that Pat Sharp hosted it,did Mike Brosnan look like him?
I was only 7 when it was on and I obviously haven’t seen it since then,so my memories of kids’ shows must be getting mixed up.
One final question,did the crowd used to sing “Top Banana,Top Banana,hey hey hey,goodbye” to the tune of the Bananarama song “Na na,hey hey,kiss him goodbye?”
Yes, that is the show!
No, it wasn’t Pat Sharp - though he does crop up in a lot of childhood TV memories.
I think I was 7 too when this show went out, but you’re right, they did sing that Top Banana song.
Cheers for the comment.
my brother wa on top banana in i think 1990 but i never got to see the showing that he was on. Do you know where i can get a copy. His name is daniel omuoreh and he went on the show with his school highwoods county primary school.
Thanks
I was on top banana 2, it was a rite laugh…. we won everything yeah….