The original cast in the first year were Steve Hooper along with four children, Merryn Pugh, Richard Hillock, Oliver Huggins and Lucy Briant (and Murdoch the dog).

For their scripted scenes Steve and the children would interact in a clubhouse set (recorded in TVNZ's Christchurch studio), and these would be interspersed with externally-filmed games and activity ideas, or skits by comedic character Murray Slack (portrayed by comedian Jon Gadsby in 1981, and then the next year by actor Tony Wahren).

For the 1982 series Lucy Briant and Oliver Huggins were retained as part of the cast but five new children were introduced - Carol Hoy, Jeffrey White, Debbie Matoe, Scott Flanagan and Adrian Sexton.

Other segments were also added to the format such as illustrated comic book character Captain Leisure (drawn by artist Ashley Smith), and a "New Games Competition" co-presented by Peter Williams and Yvonne Moore.

While sitting behind a studio desk Steve Parr introduced segments covering morning keep-fit exercises, sketches involving recurring characters such as complaining old man Clive Grumble (portrayed by Jim Hopkins), simple recipes by Alison Holst, trivia from Frank Flash (Alasdair Kincaid), law and safety with Constable Keith and Sniff (a puppet police dog), nationwide talent quest "Starbound", and a serialised interactive detective series called "The Retrievers", interspersed with regular cartoons.

When Steve Parr left the show at the end of 1984, after two years as the main presenter, the number of hosts also increased, usually to three, beginning with Danny Watson (from Spot On) joining in April 1985.

During the Steve Parr years onwards the show changed from being pre-recorded to live broadcast, and comedy sketches, interactive phone calls and competitions with the viewing audience, plus magazine-style segments going out and about, all became a more central part of the format.

The style remained this way for many years, as hosts evolved and were replaced, until today where the format now involves live audiences of crowds of children, but still is closely faithful with the core concept established early on.

They were people like Michele A'Court, Danny Watson, Al Kincaid, Michelle Bracey, Simon Barnett and Catherine McPherson, some of whom have gone on to roles as directors and writers.