Y?
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Children's educational television |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Defunct | 2002 |
Area served | Australia |
| Parent | Southern Star Endemol |
Y? was an Australian children's science education series broadcast on the Nine Network between 1999 and 2002. Created by Southern Star Endemol, the program spanned five seasons, producing a total of 325 episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 22 minutes.
The initial season featured Joanne Nova as the primary host alongside Alanna Edwards. From the second through the fifth seasons, hosting duties were taken over by Tara Colegrave and science communicator David Lampard. The format blended studio-based scientific experiments—originally conducted by Nova, then later by Lampard and occasionally Colegrave—with field segments shot in diverse settings such as forests and industrial environments. These external pieces frequently responded to inquiries submitted by viewers, thereby fostering greater audience participation.
Other contributors to the show included Brad Hills, Kristy Mollica, Joseph May, Lisa Barry, and Taryn Onafaro. Designed as a contemporary successor to The Curiosity Show, Y? aimed at children in the upper primary years possessing higher-than-average intellect. It delivered comprehensive scientific topics without diluting complexity, setting it apart from rival programs by featuring engaging younger presenters rather than traditional academic figures.
By combining hands-on scientific demonstrations with active viewer involvement, the series effectively advanced its educational objectives while maintaining strong appeal within the landscape of Australian children's educational television.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Science education television series
- Australian children's education television series
- Nine Network original programming
- 1999 Australian television series debuts
- 2002 Australian television series endings
- Television series by Endemol Shine Australia
- Television series by Endemol