The Slammer - Episode 12
First broadcast: Friday 8 December 2006, BBC ONE/CBBC Channel, 4:55pm

Peter Nokio and Jeremy Gimbert are playing hide-and-seek with Peter's puppet friends. They've already been playing for two and a half hours but still haven't managed to find any of them. Melvin gives them a clue, as he thinks they'll be on the same place as they were before the game started, and that's the one place Peter and Jeremy haven't been looking yet.

"He thinks his puppets are real, doesn't he?" A strange man called Alan, a ventriloquist apparently, and his puppet Jimmy are standing next to Melvin. Alan says he's not a prisoner, but that he's been brought in to talk to Peter. "The wardens think it's time he gave up the whole ventriloquism thing." Melvin is shocked and says Pete loves his puppets, ventriloquism is Pete's life! "If he sticks to puppets he'll never get out of here" Alan replies. "The Governor's gone right off ventriloquists, that's why he won't have one in the show. So they've asked me to come in and talk to Peter."

Peter's back to tell Melvin his puppets were where they always are, on the shelf. He notices Alan's puppet. "I'm Alan, and the Governor asked me to talk to you about the show." Pete's verry happy he'll be appearing on the Freedom Show once again! But then he learns he can't do any ventriloquism on the show. "They want you to do something else, like juggling, fire-eating, balloon-modelling, magic, anything that isn't ventriloquism." Alan tells Peter he's going to help him.

The Governor's in his office, looking at the files of the lucky inmates chosen to perform on the Freedom Show later on. Chosen to perform this week are Angie Hulahoopa, the comedy of Rhys Darby, Joe Hearson's Ukulele act, and Peter Nokio and pals. Mr Burgess interrupts the Governor. "I was just going through today's performing prisoners. On another matter, Mr Burgess, did you know that the Slammer has the worst record for jailbreaks in the country. What I want to know is how is this happening. Are people just coming up and asking for the keys for the jail?" Jeremy Gimbert comes in and asks if he can open the doors of the prison, because the inmates are too hot. The culprit is found.

Peter Nokio's learning how to juggle, but he's not very good at it - even with one ball! Alan says he's doing very well, however. "I just don't think that I'm going to be able to learn to juggle in time for the Freedom Show." Alan suggests mime, but Pete's not too keen on that. Alan suggests to learn him a card trick.

"This is your Governor speaking, will all the acts please get ready as the show will be starting in five minutes." Peter Nokio's still trying to get to grips with his new card trick, without much success. Melvin thinks there's something odd about that Alan. "He's a ventriloquist who's been brought in to show you how not to be a ventriloquist." Melvin decides to go and see the Governor, while Peter is getting rid of all of his puppets. He puts them in an old cardboard box.

Meanwhile, Alan the ventriloquist, who is a prisoner after all, is in the Governor's office. By telling him Peter's not doing any ventriloquism any more, he can take part in the Freedom Show. The prison board insisted there had to be a ventriloquist on the show, so Alan cunningly took Pete's place.

Melvin comes in as soon as Alan leaves the Governor's office. He tells him Peter didn't give up ventriloquism, but that Alan was the one who put him off it. "He obviously knew what you were doing and didn't want any competition." The Governor decides to put Peter back in the show.

It's time for the Freedom Show. But Peter's not able to perform after all, his puppets don't want to help him out, after they've been locked up in a cardboard box for a few minutes. Alan performs in his place, but his act doesn't go down very well.

> Watch highlights from this episode!
> Watch Angie Hulahoopa's act!

The Results:
Rhys Darby / 99.1
Angie Hulahoopa / 100.6
Alan & Jimmy / 72.6
Joe Hearson / 102.7