How 2

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How 2
Format	Educational
Presented by	Fred Dinenage (All series), Gareth Jones (1990-2006), Carol Vorderman (1990-97), Sian Lloyd (1998), Gail McKenna (1999-2006), Gail Porter (1998-1999)^{[citation needed]}
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	16 (How 2)
Production
Producer(s)	TVS (1990 - 1992) SMG Productions (1993 - 2006)
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Original run	1966-1981 (as How) – 1990-2006 (as How 2)

How 2 was an informative children's programme produced by TVS between 1990 and 1992, and SMG Productions (STV) from 1993 to 2005. It was a regular fixture in the CITV schedules.

[edit] History

The show began in 1966 as How. The series was popular in the 1970s, with Fred Dinenage, Jack Hargreaves, Jon Miller and Bunty James (later replaced by Marian Davies). It was designed to provide answers to questions beginning with the word "How". Each episode began with the presenters all raising one hand and saying "How" simultaneously (playing on the stereotypical Native American greeting). Common topics covered included science, history, mathematics, and simple puzzles. The series came to an end in 1981 when Southern Television lost its ITV franchise, but was revived as How 2 in 1990 by TVS. In 2006 the final series was broadcast, having waited more than a year for transmission.

A similar CITV show to appear a few years later was The Big Bang, presented by How 2's own Gareth Jones and journalist Violet Berlin (whose former credits include video-games show Bad Influence, also on CITV). The Big Bang had a more scientific slant, focusing on performing fun experiments involving simple physics and chemistry. Other similar British television series included Don't Ask Me.

Fred Dinenage was the only presenter who never quit the show and presented both shows for a total of 31 years.

How2 is rarely shown on the CITV Channel. The last time the show was broadcast was 2006 and has not been repeated since.