Level Up

Infobox Television
show_name = Level Up


caption =
format = Childrens, Entertainment
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audio_format =
runtime = 60 minutes
creator = BBC
developer =
executive_producer =
presenter = Sam Nixon
Mark Rhodes
Ayesha Asantewaa
narrated =
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country = flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
network = BBC
first_aired = April 3, 2006
last_aired = September 1, 2006
num_episodes =
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/levelup
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

"Level Up" was a UK children's TV programme broadcast by the BBC on CBBC Two and the CBBC Channel. It was launched on the 3 April 2006 and replaced "Xchange". The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasts at 7:30am until 8:30am. During the school holidays, including Bank Holidays, the show aired from 9.30am until 10:30am.

The show was presented by Mark Rhodes and Sam Nixon who rose to fame after coming second and third, respectively, in the second series of "Pop Idol". They were assisted by Ayesha Asantewaa, presenter of "The Big Toe Radio Show", who read out the "Glitches and Fixes". "Level Up" was transmitted live from studio TC10 (scene of the famous Clause 28 protest on the BBC evening news in 1987, when called N1) at BBC Television Centre in London.

The first series completed its four month run after it finished on 1 September, 2006. A second series for 2007 was initially planned, although this eventually became "Do Something Different".

Features of the show

* Infoburst, where Sam and Mark researched the answer to questions sent in by viewers and answered them on the show.
* The Techno Timeline, which took Sam and Mark back in time and explains about the technology of the time. There is also information about new technology that is likely to be seen in the future.
* Have-a-go, where a viewer sent in a short video about one of their skills (e.g. musical instrument, sport, etc.), and if chosen, is asked to come into the studio and let Sam and Mark have a go. The have-a-goer has to choose who was the best out of Sam or Mark and produces a small video of their tips and tricks for their skill which was then uploaded to the Level Up website. Sam was the overall winner.
* 60 Seconds of Newsround, the CBBC news programme was aired at around 7:15 AM and again 8:15 AM during the show to keep viewers up-to-date on the latest news.
* Instant Message, where a particular question was answered on the message board and some of the answers were read out on the show.
* Billions Things, short humorous video clips of ideas of what to do if you're bored.
* R8 Your M8, where two friends or 'mates' were given the choice of several 'missions' to earn points. Six points won a V.I.P. visit to the Level Up studio. The missions included feeding a giraffe, cleaning up elephant faeces and running around with a silly costume on whilst dancing to music.
* The Cheat Bros, where Sam and Mark gave 'advice' on a particular subject, such as acting, moving to secondary school, football, etc.
* Player 2 Ready was a feature of the show where a viewer sends in a video about their interest, such as a club, sport, etc.
* The Next Level, which allowed viewers interested in a certain job to enter into a competition, the winner of which is given the opportunity to work in a real-life environment, e.g. marine biology, sport commentary, etc.

The Next Level

The experts

Sam and Mark were aided by young experts from a particular field. An integral part of the show, they occasionally presented a section of the programme live in the studio with Sam and Mark, explaining about how viewers could get involved, i.e. the environmental expert, Sarah [http://www.coolkidsforacoolclimate.com/About/AboutIndex.html] , encouraged viewers to be more eco-friendly or Rishi, the technology expert, who informed viewers about the latest technological developments.The experts were:
* Technology - Rishi
* Environment - Sarah
* Fashion - Imogen
* Film - Ollie
* Sport - Stuart
* Dance - Matthew Evan Garrett
* Music - Jack
* Books - Maxine Felicity Stride
* Animals - Peter
* Cooking - Blessing
* Gardening - Emily
* Pelvic Expert - Ian Hatchard

Incidentally, two of the 'experts' have featured on the work experience part of the show, "The Next Level".

The gamers

On each programme, three of the twelve gamers were contacted at home via a webcam using Skype, although the connection was often temporarily lost. They joined in with the discussions, are set challenges, try and help out with the 'glitches and fixes', and make video diaries of special events/trips/holidays they go on.

The twelve gamers from the first series:
* Maria
* Avijit
* Callam
* Chloe
* Eleanor
* Lauren
* Rhys
* Naomi
* Ryan
* Alice
* Bradley
* Sam, who won the 12th Gamer competition.

The Gamer Weekender

The Gamer Weekender was a special weekend arranged by "Level Up" of fun and challenges and the chance for all the gamers to meet up. The weekender included several logic, team and competitive challenges with prizes at the end. For each team challenge they passed the gamers would receive two or three 'creds' (heavy weights) which they used to try and raise up a water level in a tall transparent cylinder. In the end, the gamers didn't quite raise the water level high enough but were given another chance and finally managed to raise the water level and win the prize of a ride in a limousine, a helicopter flight and a barbecue prepared by Sam & Mark.

Glitches and fixes

Glitches and Fixes was the part of the show where Ayesha sorts through the 'glitches' and 'fixes'. 'Glitches' were problems which the viewers send in, either as a plain text message or a video.'Fixes' were the other viewers suggestions to these problems which they phone, text or email in. The best were published on the programme's website for other viewers to vote on the top five.

Group glitches were glitches sent in by a group (e.g. friends, club, etc.) that would require more effort to "fix" than normal glithes. Group glitches were fixed by sending along a "pro-gamer" - someone who specialized in the field of the glitch - e.g. a girls football club sent in a group glitch and "Level Up" sent along one of the England's top women's football players to help them.

See also

* Sam and Mark

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2006/08/03/next_level_feature.shtml The Next Level - Radio Journalist] on the BBC Kent Web site.
* [http://www.samnixon.net Sam Nixon.net]
* [http://markrhodes1981.topic-board.com/index.htm Mark Rhodes Forum] - forum for mark fans