1: Grange Hill
The BBC's controversial comprehensive school soap opera peaked in popularity
in the 1980s, when millions tuned in to witness Zammo's decline into drug
addiction. Actors Todd Carty (Tucker) and Susan Tully (Suzanne Ross) would
go on to star in EastEnders, while producer Phil Redmond later created
Brookside and Hollyoaks. The Oscar-winning film-maker Anthony Minghella was
a script editor on the programme in the 1980s. Watch the notiorous Zammo
'drugs scene' here.
2: Magic Roundabout
The antics of Dougal, Florence and co, in the words of one correspondent,
“defined bedtime for a generation of children. Once Zebedee said it was time
for bed, it really was... Post Magic Roundabout, it has been bedtime
anarchy!” “Even we children knew this was far out,” wrote another. The
French original, Le Manege Enchante, was created by Serge Danot in 1963, but
the surreal British storylines were invented and narrated by Eric “father of
Emma” Thompson. Watch a classic clip here
.
3: The Clangers
The adventures of the swanee-whistling, soft-skinned lunar dwellers ran for 26
episodes from 1969, the last going out in 1974. The programme's creator,
Oliver Postgate, is one of the true giants of British children's TV, having
also created Noggin the Nog, Pogles' Wood, Ivor the Engine and Bagpuss (see
below). Watch a clip featuring the fondly-remembered Soup Dragon here
.
4: Bagpuss
Another unforgettable 13 episodes from Postgate's company Smallfilms: “And
when Bagpuss wakes up, all his friends wake up too.” Remind yourself of the
evocative title sequence here.
5: Tiswas
Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, male-adolescent lust object Sally James and the
phantom flan-flinger. The perfect Saturday morning show. Watch an
extraordinary lineup of eighties stars get flanned here.
6: Mr Benn
A man in a bowler hat walks into a shop, and “as if by magic, the shopkeeper
appeared”. Cue the magic door into a new world of infinite possibilities. 13
episodes of inventive genius from the artist Dave McKee, who used his own
address of Festing Road, south London, as the basis for Mr Benn's Festive
Road. Remind yourself of the surreal wonderment of Mr.Benn here
.
7: Camberwick Green
The first and most celebrated of the Trumptonshire trilogy, which also
includes Trumpton and Chigley, Camberwick Green ran for 13 episodes but
created a gallery of characters, such as Windy Miller, which is still with
us today. Revisit Camberwick Green here.
Here also is a bonus clip
from BBC's 'Life on Mars' which will strike a chord with Camberwick Green
fans.
8: Danger Mouse
Perhaps the most enduring series of the many created by Manchester's Cosgrove
Hall studios, thanks to the great comic timing of the voice actors David
Jason (DangerMouse) and Terry Scott (Penfold). Even attracted a tribute from
The Simpsons. Wallow in ten minutes of rodent-based action here.
9: Multi-Coloured Swapshop
Noel Edmonds, joined by Maggie Philbin, Keith Chegwin and John Craven, hosting
three hours of live TV, where kids nationwide could swap their unwanted
possessions. Remind yourself of a time before eBay here.
10: Why don't you...
A forerunner of today's reality TV shows, where a group of children in a
garden shed would tell you interesting things to do that didn't involve the
goggle-box. Watch a classic clip here.
11: Magpie
The groovy ITV version of BBC's Blue Peter, Magpie featured pop bands. XTC
made their TV debut on this show, singing Science Friction, their debut
single. Hear the Spencer Davis Group theme tune, marvel at Susan Stranks'
diction and look forward to a piece about the latest gear from Carnaby
Street here.
12: Blue Peter
The longest running children's TV show in the world first appeared in 1958 and
is still going strong today. British people can instantly date one another
by naming the presenters of their youth. Presenter Konnie Huq has just left
the show after ten years. Watch this compilation
of Blue Peter mishaps, which of course includes that elephant.
13: The Banana Splits
Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky larked around while presenting cartoon
shows such as The Three Musketeers and live-action segments such as Danger
Island. One of our crueller correspondents points out that Doctor Who's
former assistant Billie Piper is a dead ringer for Bingo. Watch the
hallucogenic intro sequence here.
14: Thunderbirds
“Five, four, three, two, one – Thunderbirds are go!” Enough said. Watch the
classic intro sequence here
and a rare clip of a proposed contemporary remake here
.
15: Tom and Jerry
Their first cartoon appeared in 1940, and the cat and mouse duo have won seven
Academy Awards. Watch a classic cartoon here.
16: Noggin the Nog
Oliver Postgate again, with a series that first aired in 1958 before making a
comeback in the 1970s. Enjoy a moment of pure televisual nostalgia here.
17: PlaySchool
Has a lasting claim to fame as the first children's programme to be shown in
colour on BBC Two. Home of stuffed toys and the round window. Open a window
into 1973 here.
18: The Flower Pot Men
Incomprehensible earthenware rapscallions who were aided and abetted by Little
Weed. Their language was called oddle-poddle. The 2001 stop-motion remake
was not a patch on the original. Watch a clip from the original series here.
19: Bananaman
The voices of The Goodies meet a superhero who gains his strength from eating
bananas. Watch Bananaman take on The Heavy Mob here
.
20: Doctor Who
The good Doctor enters his 45th year on our screens in rude health in his
latest incarnation as David Tennant. Older viewers still argue the toss
between Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. See five incarnations
of the temporal itinerant together here
.
21: Sooty
Although the silent yellow glove puppet was the titular character, it was his
mischievous sidekick Sweep that we all watched it for. Following the
retirement from the series of the founding Corbett family, the rights to
Sooty were offered for sale in October last year. Here's
a clip from Sooty's 50th anniversary retrospective.
22: Thundercats
An American animation that was produced by some of the Japanese animators who
would go on to form Studio Ghibli (home of Howl's Moving Castle). The series
ran for five years, from 1985-90, although a CGI feature-length version is
currently in development. Feel the magic of the original 2-D animation here.
23: Trumpton
Tales from the county town of Trumptonshire (see Camberwick Green) began with
a fire-brigade roll-call: "Pugh! Pugh! Barney McGrew! Cuthbert! Dibble!
Grubb!". Remind yourself of the fire brigade lineup here.
24: The Wombles
They lived on Wimbledon Common, recycling “things that the everyday folk leave
behind”. Its Green message was way ahead of its time, and Bernard Cribbins's
voiceover irresistible. Recycle some vintage 70s pleasure here.
25: Moomins
Finland's most famous family has starred in numerous books, TV series and
films. Huge in Japan, oddly enough.
26: Crackerjack
“It's Friday! It's five to five, it's Crackerjack!” Can it really be 24 years
since it ended? Watch some classic clips here
.
27: Byker Grove
The show that gave us a host of tragic teenage deaths, and survivors Ant and
Dec. Thrill to the musical majesty of PJ & Duncan performing with Grove
Matrix here.
28: Bod
Slightly sinister animated cartoon series, voiced by the super-smooth John Le
Mesurier. Remind yourself of the unashamedly basic visuals and absolutely
unforgettable music here.
29: Dogtanian and the Three Muskahounds
It really was Three Musketeers with dogs. If people don't believe you, show
them this .
30: Inspector Gadget
The Metro City Police send their cyborg detective worldwide to clear up crime.
Watch a clip here.
31: Muppet Show
“It's time to put on make-up, it's time to light the lights...” Watch the
unforgettable intro sequence here,
or meet the most popular Muppet here.
32: Tomorrow People
The next iteration of the human race is already here. Watch them take on
Hitler in this clip.
33: Fingerbobs
The always on the blink a-mouse. Enjoy the state-of-the-art special effects here.
34: Basil Brush
Boom-boom. Watch a clip from the Mr.Derek era here.
36: Skippy The Bush Kangaroo
Australian marsupial blessed with better communication skills than his human
co-stars. Watch the intro sequence here.
37: Teletubbies
Odd creatures talk gibberish, have TVs in their stomachs and are popular with
students. Experience all the benefits of further education here.
38: He-Man
“By the power of Greyskull!” Enjoy the rather improbable He-Man Christmas
special here.
39: Care Bears
Cute, cuddly, furry stars of TV and the big screen. Test whether you can
endure their theme song by clicking here.
40: Champion the Wonder Horse
“The time will come when everyone will know the name of Champioooon the Wonder
Horse.” That time is now. Watch a rather ancient clip here.
41: Top Cat
Known in the UK as Boss Cat for a while, because Top Cat was a brand of cat
food. Sing along with the marvellous theme tune here.
42: Newsround
The news for children in a pioneering format developed by John Craven. Watch a
1982 clip here
43: Blakes Seven
Cult sci-fi viewing for fans of cardboard and tinfoil. Watch Blake's shock
return at the end of series 4.
44: Star Fleet
The English title of a Japanese puppet show known as X-Bomber in its home
country. Owes a great debt the Thunderbirds. Click here
for a clip. Click here
for Brian May's dynamite theme song.
45: Fraggle Rock
Another cracker from the home of the Muppets. Clip here.
46: The Lone Ranger
“Hi-ho Silver! Away!”. An intellectual is anyone who can listen to this
music and not think of the Lone Ranger.
47: My Little Pony
Unashamedly girly TV show, inspired by the popular dolls. Ladies are invited
to watch this clip.
48: Captain Pugwash
All rumours about crew names are without basis in fact. Here, as if evidence
were needed, is a vintage Pugwash
clip.
49: Rainbow
“Up above the streets and houses, rainbow climbing high...” Home of Bungle,
Zippy and Geoffrey. Here, for more mature readers, is the notorious 'not
for broadcast ' Rainbow clip.
50: Monkey
The Japanese TV show Saiyuki took the UK by storm in the late 1970s. Remind
yourself of the disco-powered theme song here
Mr. Go???
Fred Jacquet, Nieuwegein, Netherlands
Hey, where's the "The Singing, Ringing Tree" the weirdest , scariest and most magical childrens TV series ever. Also have a soft spot for "Hectors House" and "Crystal Tips and Alistair"
Sedgwick Morrison, London,
Neither "Doctor Who" or "Blakes 7" were ever kids programmes.
Graeme, Dunfermline, UK
Having thought about it a little more... can I also put in a plea for The Trap Door (a most imaginitive pre-Wallace and Gromit use of plasticine, and really wierd), and Here Come the Double Deckers - which I suspect Peter Firth would really rather forget about!
Alison Rawlinson, Godalming, Surrey,
great clips, fond memories. excellent work on the rainbow clip!!!
janet perkins, ipswich, england
My partner collects rainbow memrobillia,I was wondering if it is possible to get hold of the cd you were giving away free we missed it as we were away.
Regards Kris Lowe
KRISTIAN LOWE, MELTON MOWBRAY, England
One cannot help but notice that Power Rangers, possibly the highest rated, most popular show in history, is not on the list. Neither are Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles and Biker Mice From Mars, each highly rated.
Roger Namakee, los angeles, CA
Well I can't take this seriously if you are going to leave out Pipkins. Ridiculous.
Garax Hyrojacks, London,
No top 50 list can possibly exclude 'Ludwig' along with his cuddly friends (especially the short-sighted owl) and fine music.
John Neville, Welwyn Garden City,
Rainbow.......Number 49
I'm not surprised if it was the garbage version that was on todays free DVD.
Talk about disappointed children, it didn't even have Geoffrey in it!
Gary Hosker, Nottingham, England