The How and Why of Why, Dad, Why?

This post updated 10 May 2022 - I originally stated that all except one of the versions of Why, Dad, Why? which appeared in the Cheeky titles were drawn by John Geering. I have since realised that in fact two Why, Dad, Why? episodes in the Cheeky Annual 1980 were drawn by an artist (the same person in both cases) who I'm unable to identify - one example can be seen below.

I am once again indebted to Stephen Archer who has researched the original run of Why, Dad, Why?, which commenced in Whizzer and Chips dated 03 October 1970 and concluded in the Whizzer and Chips Annual dated 1974 (published of course in the autumn of 1973). Fans of the toothy funster will be aware that a strip entitled Why, Dad, Why? began in Cheeky Weekly dated 30 September 1978 and continued (albeit absent from 16 issues) until the final edition of our grinning pal's comic, appearing thereafter in various Cheeky Annuals and Specials. However, these Cheeky versions of Why, Dad, Why? were not straight reprints of the original strips, but were redrawn interpretations of the scripts written for the first series. Manny Curtis drew the originals but the revivals of the feature were illustrated (with two exceptions) by John Geering.

 

Whizzer and Chips 19 June 1971

 

Cheeky Weekly 08 September 1979

With the help of Stephen's synopses of the plots of the original run of WDW, I have been able to link most of the Cheeky versions to their original counterparts.

The table below lists WDW's original run, and shows the scripts selected for reinterpretation in Cheeky titles (and also Why, Dad, Why? as Star Guest in Whoopee! and Whizzer and Chips)

The issue of Whizzer and Chips dated 21 August 1971, and the Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special of 1971 have proved elusive so no synopsis is presently available in those 2 cases.

The reinterpreted Why, Dad, Why? scripts did not adhere to the original publication order and were seemingly chosen at random, with the first episode not among those selected for re-drawing. The same abandonment of the original order and exclusion of the first episode became evident following Stephen's research into Ringer Dinger and the Cave Kids which were reprinted (in those cases featuring the original artwork) in the Cheeky titles..

Where the same synopsis is shown on 2 rows (such as Whizzer and Chips 17 July 1971), it indicates that the redrawn script covers 2 elements. The script that originally appeared in W&C dated 24 June 1972 was printed on one and a half pages in the Cheeky Holiday Special 1980, and the strip in the Cheeky Summer Special of 1979 was similarly split over a page and a half. All the other 2-row entries in the table indicate 2-full-page reprints. All the WDW strips in the Whizzer and Chips Annuals were 2-pagers, but none of those scripts were reprinted.

There is one instance of a synopsis appearing 3 times in the table below (Whizzer and Chips 04 December 1971), and I'll explain that after this table.

TITLE	COVER DATE	FEATURE	SYNOPSIS	REPRINTED IN	COVER DATE
Whizzer and Chips	03-Oct-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns magic
Whizzer and Chips	10-Oct-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Hide-and-seek with Dad
Whizzer and Chips	17-Oct-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Superstitions
Whizzer and Chips	24-Oct-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad takes refuge behind the armchair
Whizzer and Chips	31-Oct-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Things don’t go swimmingly at the park
Whizzer and Chips	07-Nov-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s fireworks
Whizzer and Chips	14-Nov-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s wig
Whizzer and Chips	21-Nov-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Coconuts
Whizzer and Chips	28-Nov-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s late for work
Whizzer and Chips	05-Dec-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	DIY with Dad	Cheeky Weekly	05-May-1979
Whizzer and Chips	12-Dec-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad hops to it at the zoo
Whizzer and Chips	19-Dec-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	The lumberjacks
Whizzer and Chips	26-Dec-1970	Why, Dad, Why?	The earmuffs
Whizzer and Chips	02-Jan-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad buys a computer
Whizzer and Chips	09-Jan-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son meet the Human Brain	Cheeky Weekly	09-Dec-1978
Whizzer and Chips	16-Jan-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad takes up meditation	Cheeky Weekly	10-Feb-1979
Whizzer and Chips	23-Jan-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son and the crooked workmen	Cheeky Weekly	21-Oct-1978
Whizzer and Chips	30-Jan-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son loses his voice	Cheeky Weekly	18-Nov-1978
Whizzer and Chips	06-Feb-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go fishing	Cheeky Weekly	14-Jul-1979
Whizzer and Chips	13-Feb-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son wants to be a spaceman	Cheeky Weekly	04-Nov-1978
Whizzer and Chips	20-Feb-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go for a drive
Whizzer and Chips	27-Feb-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son end up in police cell
Whizzer and Chips	06-Mar-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	TV aerial trouble	Cheeky Weekly	11-Nov-1978
Whizzer and Chips	13-Mar-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The parrot
Whizzer and Chips	20-Mar-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The encyclopaedia salesman	Cheeky Weekly	27-Jan-1979
Whizzer and Chips	27-Mar-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son and the Red Indians	Cheeky Weekly	16-Jun-1979
Whizzer and Chips	03-Apr-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The banana skin	Cheeky Weekly	30-Sep-1978
Whizzer and Chips	10-Apr-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s Easter Egg	Cheeky Weekly	21-Apr-1979
Whizzer and Chips	17-Apr-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns to spell	Cheeky Weekly	09-Jun-1979
Whizzer and Chips	24-Apr-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The blocked chimney	Cheeky Weekly	25-Aug-1979
Whizzer and Chips	01-May-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and the violin fiddle	Cheeky Weekly	04-Aug-1979
Whizzer and Chips	08-May-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s quiet afternoon	Cheeky Weekly	21-Jul-1979
Whizzer and Chips	15-May-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go to the gym	Cheeky Weekly	14-Oct-1978
Whizzer and Chips	22-May-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son play rugby	Cheeky Weekly	15-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	29-May-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad tries to lose weight
Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1971	01-Jun-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	** Issue not available **
Whizzer and Chips	05-Jun-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s nap	Cheeky Weekly	03-Mar-1979
Whizzer and Chips	12-Jun-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son receives dose of medicine	Cheeky Weekly	07-Oct-1978
Whizzer and Chips	19-Jun-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son goes to the dentist	Cheeky Weekly	08-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	26-Jun-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Rubber kangaroo	Cheeky Weekly	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	03-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son and the L-plate	Cheeky Weekly	28-Apr-1979
Whizzer and Chips	10-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns to dance	Cheeky Weekly	23-Jun-1979
Whizzer and Chips	17-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Passing the dog show (Human boxer and lost dog)	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	17-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Passing the dog show (Human boxer and lost dog)	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	24-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns about gravity	Cheeky Weekly	12-May-1979
Whizzer and Chips	31-Jul-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s beard	Cheeky Weekly	17-Mar-1979
Whizzer and Chips	07-Aug-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go to the park
Whizzer and Chips	14-Aug-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad cleans the windows	Cheeky Weekly	22-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	21-Aug-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	** Issue not available **
Whizzer and Chips	28-Aug-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns to ride a bike	Cheeky Weekly	28-Jul-1979
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1972	01-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	A visit to the library
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1972	01-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	A rainy day
Whizzer and Chips	04-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son stargazes	Cheeky Weekly	24-Feb-1979
Whizzer and Chips	11-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go to the zoo	Cheeky Weekly	10-Mar-1979
Whizzer and Chips	18-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Repairing the shelf
Whizzer and Chips	25-Sep-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns about colours	Whizzer and Chips	12-May-1979
Whizzer and Chips	02-Oct-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The wasp	Cheeky Weekly	30-Jun-1979
Whizzer and Chips	09-Oct-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The bonfire	Cheeky Weekly	29-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	16-Oct-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Army manoeuvres	Whoopee!	05-May-1979
Whizzer and Chips	23-Oct-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The flat tyre	Cheeky Weekly	31-Mar-1979
Whizzer and Chips	30-Oct-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns left from right	Cheeky Weekly	24-Mar-1979
Whizzer and Chips	06-Nov-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Buying fireworks
Whizzer and Chips	13-Nov-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The loose floorboard
Whizzer and Chips	20-Nov-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns bus courtesy	Cheeky Weekly	17-Feb-1979
Whizzer and Chips	27-Nov-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns about superstitions	Cheeky Weekly	03-Feb-1979
Whizzer and Chips	04-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s forgotten something	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	04-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s forgotten something	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	04-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s forgotten something	Cheeky Weekly	10-Nov-1979
Whizzer and Chips	11-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The blocked gutter	Cheeky Weekly	06-Jan-1979
Whizzer and Chips	18-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	The lost coin	Cheeky Weekly	26-May-1979
Whizzer and Chips	25-Dec-1971	Why, Dad, Why?	Christmas decorations	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	01-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The New Year party
Whizzer and Chips	08-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s stilts	Cheeky Annual 1981	01-Sep-1980
Whizzer and Chips	08-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s stilts	Cheeky Annual 1981	01-Sep-1980
Whizzer and Chips	15-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son beat the carpet	Cheeky Weekly	24-Nov-1979
Whizzer and Chips	22-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s lasso	Cheeky Weekly	13-Oct-1979
Whizzer and Chips	29-Jan-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and the wishing well	Cheeky Weekly	20-Oct-1979
Whizzer and Chips	05-Feb-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The mouse	Cheeky Weekly	27-Oct-1979
Whizzer and Chips	12-Feb-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son can’t sleep
Whizzer and Chips	19-Feb-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Indoor games
Whizzer and Chips	26-Feb-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s boss visits	Cheeky Weekly	01-Dec-1979
Whizzer and Chips	04-Mar-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son learns about X certificate	Cheeky Weekly	03-Nov-1979
Whizzer and Chips	11-Mar-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad won’t let Son ask questions
Whizzer and Chips	18-Mar-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son and the radio show	Cheeky Holiday Special	01-Apr-1980
Whizzer and Chips	25-Mar-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s long trousers
Whizzer and Chips	01-Apr-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad in the boxing ring	Cheeky Weekly	18-Aug-1979
Whizzer and Chips	08-Apr-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The parking space
Whizzer and Chips	15-Apr-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	A walk in the country
Whizzer and Chips	22-Apr-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The alarm clock	Cheeky Weekly	19-Jan-1980
Whizzer and Chips	29-Apr-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The maze
Whizzer and Chips	06-May-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad takes Son to school	Cheeky Weekly	02-Feb-1980
Whizzer and Chips	13-May-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad dives for treasure
Whizzer and Chips	20-May-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Hypnosis
Whizzer and Chips	27-May-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go the travel agent
Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1972	01-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Milkshakes and ice lolly
Whizzer and Chips	03-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad digs the garden
Whizzer and Chips	10-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The ice cream van
Whizzer and Chips	17-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son bird watches
Whizzer and Chips	24-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The seesaw and the swing	Cheeky Holiday Special	01-Apr-1980
Whizzer and Chips	24-Jun-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The seesaw and the swing	Cheeky Holiday Special	01-Apr-1980
Whizzer and Chips	01-Jul-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son and the bolas
Whizzer and Chips	08-Jul-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go trainspotting
Whizzer and Chips	15-Jul-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s donkey ride
Whizzer and Chips	22-Jul-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s repeats make trouble
Whizzer and Chips	29-Jul-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Uncle Egbert’s visit
Whizzer and Chips	05-Aug-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Keep fit with Dad
Whizzer and Chips	12-Aug-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son’s surprise present
Whizzer and Chips	19-Aug-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The motorboat
Whizzer and Chips	26-Aug-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The show jumping contest
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1973	01-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Frozen pond and burst pipe
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1973	01-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Lighting the fire
Whizzer and Chips	02-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go to the circus
Whizzer and Chips	09-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The hiking boots
Whizzer and Chips	16-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The dog show [2]
Whizzer and Chips	23-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son go to a music shop
Whizzer and Chips	30-Sep-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The supermarket trip	Cheeky Weekly	22-Dec-1979
Whizzer and Chips	07-Oct-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Bearded ladies
Whizzer and Chips	14-Oct-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The street market
Whizzer and Chips	21-Oct-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad and Son make toffee
Whizzer and Chips	28-Oct-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s roses
Whizzer and Chips	04-Nov-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Son tries to fly	Cheeky Weekly	08-Dec-1979
Whizzer and Chips	11-Nov-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad loses his key	Cheeky Weekly	15-Dec-1979
Whizzer and Chips	18-Nov-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad’s old banger
Whizzer and Chips	25-Nov-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The loose floorboard [2]	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	25-Nov-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The loose floorboard [2]	Cheeky Annual 1980	01-Sep-1979
Whizzer and Chips	02-Dec-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad on the subs bench
Whizzer and Chips	09-Dec-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Dad learns yoga
Whizzer and Chips	16-Dec-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The lost cat
Whizzer and Chips	23-Dec-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	The regimental get-together
Whizzer and Chips	30-Dec-1972	Why, Dad, Why?	Decorating the Christmas tree
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1974	01-Sep-1973	Why, Dad, Why?	Balaclava helmet
Whizzer and Chips Annual 1974	01-Sep-1973	Why, Dad, Why?	The waxworks

The script for the 04 December 1971 issue of Whizzer and Chips was utilised a further 2 times...

Whizzer and Chips 04 December 1971

Cheeky Annual 1980
I can't identify this artist

Cheeky Weekly 10 November 1979

There are 3 Why, Dad, Why? episodes in the Cheeky titles that I have not been able to link back to an earlier script;

Cheeky Summer Special 1979

The episode begins with Dad and Son carrying a picnic hamper onto the beach. Dad says they need to keep the food cool, and Son puts the hamper into the sea. Then there's confusion over Dad's plan for a dip and his request to Son to buy a pair of trunks - Son returns carrying trunks of the luggage variety. The strip ends with the pair using the trunks as boats.

Cheeky Weekly 29 December 1979

Son asks Dad why they must invite their relatives to Christmas dinner. The meal descends into a food-fight, but by the end of the evening everyone agrees they haven't enjoyed themselves as much for years.

Cheeky Annual 1982

Son asks Dad what UFO stands for, after which Dad has an altercation with a frisbee-throwing kid and his father, then our heroes witness a real UFO landing. The aliens abandon their invasion plans after suffering Son's incessant questioning.

It's possible that these 3 tales may be based on material originally appearing in Whizzer and Chips dated 21 August 1971 and/or Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1971, the 2 issues that have evaded our search. Please get in touch if you have the comics in question.