Children's Television

[Ivo]

Everyone on this forum has watched a television at some point of their life. Fact.

Think back to when you were younger – for some of us, that is hardly applicable at all; for others, it will seem like the distant past. Whatever is true for you though, what kind of television did you like as a young'un? Be imaginative with your impression of the term "young'un" – if there was something you utterly adored at the age of ten, share the story! Being the saddo that I am, back in May/June – I forget which – I wrote a passage outlining my all-time favourite Top 20 children’s shows, with some being especially suitable for toddlers while others were not even designed for children. But my #1 is and surely always will be Thunderbirds; others at the sharp end of my list include Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (as SS4 at the very least will know), The Simpsons, Pokémon (duh) and, perhaps a little more surprisingly, The Raggy Dolls. For those that know Raggy Dolls, I can honestly say that as a 5-year-old I was genuinely in love with Dotty

So what did (or does?) everyone else watch? Keep in mind that a show does not have to be specifically for children to count it; it only has to be suitable for them. (As an example, Tom & Jerry was designed for adults - but is a true joy to watch even as a child.)

 

[Eagle]

I love Rastamouse. In the Night Garden and Balamory were good while they lasted.

Oh, wait, you're asking for the programmes I watched as a child?

 

[Temple Meads]

I'm told I was transfixed by The Tellytubbies when I was about 3/4, and would go into hysterics at the end

But to be honest I never really watched children's TV, parental guidance wasn't that high in my household.

The Simpsons is great and one of my favourites, not too sure if I'd call it a children's show though.

 

[starrymarkb]

I grew up with the Trap Door, Knightmare, Bertha, Button Moon, Doctor Who (where the flying Dalek terrified me - they first [EL-E-VATE!]ed in the 1980s!)

The Trap Door and Knightmare probably explain a lot

 

[Minilad]

TISWAS. Enough said, well OK then I will add to that Sally James !!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Tots TV
Rosie and Jim
Thunderbirds
Stingray
Fun House
Finders Keepers
Pokémon
Digimon
SM:TV Live

Kids TV has gone crap since!

 

[martinsh]

Shaun the Sheep !

and back in the past

Dangermouse
Portland Bill
Postman Pat (before it got silly)
Thomas the Tank Engine (before it got silly)

never did like Ivor the Engine

 

[Yew]

Whacky races

 

[EM2]

Trumpton, Chigley and Camberwick Green.
Mary Mungo & Midge.
Mister Benn.
Crystal Tipps and Alistair.
Chorlton and the Wheelies.

 

[Statto]

TISWAS. Enough said, well OK then I will add to that Sally James !!

I'm just a bit too young to remember Tiswas, i've only seen clips of Tiswas since it was aired, do remember Going Live[when i wasn't out for the day] that was just as good. Always remember CBBC used to have a supernatural type of drama on Wednesday afternoons, & Scooby Doo was always on during the School Holidays, as was Why Don't You, which had a weird theme.

 

[SS4]

Tots TV
Rosie and Jim
Stingray
Fun House
Finders Keepers
Pokémon
SM:TV Live

Kids TV has gone crap since!

In addition:
AoStH [Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog] - SatAM was never as good IMO
Brum
My Parents Are Aliens
Wallace and Gromit
Tom and Jerry
Wacky Races

 

[Clip]

Tots TV
Rosie and Jim
Thunderbirds
Stingray
Fun House
Finders Keepers
Pokémon
Digimon
SM:TV Live

Kids TV has gone crap since!

The Irony.

Though again anyone who says its crap nowadays has not had the pleasure of Spongebob square pants

 

[Lampshade]

Fun House.

Although I remember it being amazing in 1997 when I first watched it (on Fridays after Hey Arnold) but I watched it the other week on Challenge with a friend and it was, well, crap

Aside from that:

SM:TV Live
Pokémon
Wacky Races
Brum (I still have a taped episode on VHS, I loved the theme tune)
Alvin and the Chipmunks

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Dick and Dom in da Bungalow was boss, followed by My Parents Are Aliens.

Having said that, Raven (some Scottish adventure show thing) was probably the greatest thing I have ever seen on TV.

 

[Statto]

Fun House.

Although I remember it being amazing in 1997 when I first watched it (on Fridays after Hey Arnold) but I watched it the other week on Challenge with a friend and it was, well, crap

Aside from that:

SM:TV Live
Pokémon
Wacky Races
Brum (I still have a taped episode on VHS, I loved the theme tune)
Alvin and the Chipmunks

I remember when Fun House first started, found it ok. Blooming hell Alvin, hated them, even worse some of there cover versions of the songs they've done, are up on YouTube & there awful, & so awful they'll be in your head for weeks.

Wacky Races were good, Dick Dastardly & Muttley, as was Dick Dastardly & his Flying Machines.

I remember a Friday afternoon show on CITV late 80s early 90s, which used puppets[not Fraggle Rock] used to be a bit of satire in it can't remember the name.

Loved Maid Marian & Her Merry Men as well, thought it was too good to be aired on CBBC, could have easily been on, on a later time slot.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Very few had televisions when I was young....but I remember listening to "Journey into Space" on the radio.

 

[Lampshade]

Oh, and how the Hell did I forget ZZZap!?

 

[Heinz57]

Whacky races

Yes!

I loved that!

Other programes I liked were

Arhtur
Fairy Odd Parents
The Raven
Thunderbirds
Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes (Still do actualy, so does my grandad. He loves Top and Jerry)
Scooby Doo
Short Change
Grange Hill
And because I'm a 90s kid theres the Fresh Prince of Bel Air (And yes, I know all the words to the rap )

 

[martin2345uk]

I loved Thomas the Tank (the earlier series!), and there was also a similar series about Tugs made by the same people, I think it was called Tugs (!).

Other than that it was:

Raggydolls
Jimbo and the Jet Set
Family Ness
Penny Crayon

Love nostalgia!

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Oh, and how the Hell did I forget ZZZap!?

Oh yeah, I remember that too! I was watching it on YouTube last night and I was in giggles!

 

[trentside]

I always loved Thomas the Tank Engine... enough said maybe? I also liked the Magic Roundabout (still do!), Roobarb, Tom & Jerry, Scooby Doo, Wacky Races and various other things that escape my mind right now.

My favourite programme as I got older was something called Two's Country, that was presented by the late Tim Grundy (more well known as a Radio DJ). It was a history programme at first, travelling round the UK and Europe. Later they did also sorts of things, including cooking and various other strange things. It was always done with a good sense of humour and I always credit it with starting my love of history.

 

[yorksrob]

Loved Maid Marian & Her Merry Men as well, thought it was too good to be aired on CBBC, could have easily been on, on a later time slot.

Yes, Maid Marrion and her Merry Men was particularly good for a childrens TV show.

I always liked Grange Hill as well - far better than Blue Peter which was always on on the alternate days.

BTW, does anyone else remember a quiz show set on a space ship where the captain appeared to be a talking rubber plant on a hostess trolley ?

 

[Bungle73]

Of the ones I remember:

Blue Peter
Swap Shop
Saturday Superstore
Dogtanian and the Three Muskahounds (and other animal based famous novel adaptions)
Mysterious Cities of Gold
Anything with Tony Hart in it
Anything with Johnny Ball in it
Why Don't You?
Battle of the Planets
Grange Hill

I always loved Thomas the Tank Engine... enough said maybe? I also liked the Magic Roundabout (still do!), Roobarb, Tom & Jerry, Scooby Doo, Wacky Races and various other things that escape my mind right now.

My favourite programme as I got older was something called Two's Country, that was presented by the late Tim Grundy (more well known as a Radio DJ). It was a history programme at first, travelling round the UK and Europe. Later they did also sorts of things, including cooking and various other strange things. It was always done with a good sense of humour and I always credit it with starting my love of history.

Oh I loved Two's Country, and the antics of "The Eye"! I wish they'd repeat it. I've seen the later abroad-based series recently, but I'd really like to see the original two where they travel around Britain. Some guy's uploaded quite a lot of footage to YouTube, but he doesn't have everything.

 

[trentside]

Oh I loved Two's Country, and the antics of "The Eye"! I wish they'd repeat it. I've seen the later abroad-based series recently, but I'd really like to see the original two where they travel around Britain. Some guy's uploaded quite a lot of footage to YouTube, but he doesn't have everything.

Yeah, I came accross that YouTube channel a few months ago - made me wish for repeats even more. I used to have most of them on video, recorded off the TV, but sadly most of the tapes became unplayable.

 

[Bungle73]

Yeah, I came accross that YouTube channel a few months ago - made me wish for repeats even more. I used to have most of them on video, recorded off the TV, but sadly most of the tapes became unplayable.

I had a few episodes on tape too, but it seems to have got lost somewhere...or I recorded over them!

It must have been very successful for them to make so many versions of it, so I don't know why it's not been repeated.

Did you ever see the Channel 4 version of it called "Travelling Light"? Basically the same concept with Tim Grundy and The Eye travelling the country over the course of a few weeks; with what they'd filmed each week shown in the Friday (IIRC)? That one seems to have disappeared into a black hole.

 

[martinsh]

BTW, does anyone else remember a quiz show set on a space ship where the captain appeared to be a talking rubber plant on a hostess trolley ?

I assume you mean The Adventure Game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_Game

Gronda, gronda, Rangdo !

Also Will'o'th'Wisp

 

[Ivo]

I don't know if it's the one you've just mentioned, but i seem to recall a game a bit like The Krypton Factor in which a deathly booming voice would call "MOVE!" with the risk of getting caught by something if you didn't (or made the wrong move)? Does anyone else remember something along these lines?

Oh, and another one for me, which has already been mentioned, would be SM:TV. I spent months mulling over an application for Challenge Ant - only by the time I was finally ready he and Dec announced they were leaving the show

[YOUTUBE]ElvII7Svxx0[/YOUTUBE]

[Notice the incorrect spelling of "Poké" :roll:]

 

[Lampshade]

Oh, and another one for me, which has already been mentioned, would be SM:TV. I spent months mulling over an application for Challenge Ant - only by the time I was finally ready he and Dec announced they were leaving the show

I sent in a Pokérap and it didn't get read out (if 'read' is the right word) :cry:

 

[Statto]

Yes, Maid Marrion and her Merry Men was particularly good for a childrens TV show.

I always liked Grange Hill as well - far better than Blue Peter which was always on on the alternate days.

BTW, does anyone else remember a quiz show set on a space ship where the captain appeared to be a talking rubber plant on a hostess trolley ?

Some of the jokes in Maid Marian would have gone over some peoples heads, would have been suited to a 7-7:30pm kind of time slot.

I'm not that fussy on Blue Peter, i always felt it was it patronising & talked down to the Viewer the sort of "We think it'd be a good idea if you"ecc, but said in a patronising way, although there were some good segments, when one of the Presenters did a challenge.

Going Live was one of those programmes were anything could happen, most notability that notorious phone call in The Press Conference section.

 

[EM2]

BTW, does anyone else remember a quiz show set on a space ship where the captain appeared to be a talking rubber plant on a hostess trolley ?

That sounds like The Adventure Game: http://ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_Adventure_Game
Ivo - is the one you mention Knightmare? http://www.knightmare.com/

Oh and I've just remembered Stoppit And Tidyup!