Ridgey Didge

Australian TV series or program

Off the Dish
Double Dare Australia

Ridgey Didge was a popular Network Ten magazine television program for children in Australia. The name is an Australian slang term meaning honest, true or the real thing.

Format

A long-running series of 52-minute programs, each studio-based episode was intended to be an entertaining voyage of adventure and discovery for the viewers, constantly covering new topics reflecting Australian life and culture. Location segments added to the mix. One episode recorded sealing a time capsule to commemorate Australia's bicentennial in 1988; the capsule was opened in 2001.

Presenters

A team of presenters hosted each program:

Jared Robinsen
Rebecca Hetherington (daughter of Norman Hetherington)
Simon Watt
Danny Carretti
Chris Harriott
Ashley Paske

They were joined by puppet characters

Shorn Sheep (operated by Danny Carretti)
Buzz the Blowfly (operated by Simon Watt)
Buzzle the Blowfly

Other presenters of regular segments:

Dr. Glenn Singleman (medicine)
Dean Taylor (art)

Catchphrase

The lyrics in the signature tune repeated the words ridgey didge several times which became a catchphrase amongst the target audience. This was accompanied with a hand gesture. The three middle fingers of the right hand were closed, leaving the thumb and little finger extended; the hand was then twisted from side to side in time with the rhythm of the music.