BEST EVER KIDS TV!
From Humpty to Hector and Zippy to Zebedee, television shows loom large in memories of our childhood days
1940's
For The Children transmitted live o on Sunday afternoons and introduced a range of characters to entertain the youngest viewers, most n notably the spiky-lashed Muffin t the Mule. The puppet was na named by his presenter Annette Mil Mills and first trotted onto his stage – a piano top – on TV sets in 1946, a along with his many friends including Mr Peregrine Esquire the penguin and Louise the Lamb. Radio was still the dominant source of entertainment, however however, with presenter presenters, readings, series and dramas forming what would be the template for the large-scale introduction of dedicated children’s features on television in the following decade.
1950's
The world’s longest-running children’s TV programme Blue Peter is still going strong, a whopping 58 years after Christopher Trace and Leila Williams became the first of its 37 presenters. The decade also introduced Bill and Ben The Flower Pot Men who flobbadobbed in the garden accompanied by Little Weed, puppet Sooty and the romper-suited Andy Pandy, playmate of Teddy and Looby Loo. The undoubted star of The Woodentops family was Spotty Dog, “the very biggest spotty dog you ever did see.” Crackerjack began, going on to enjoy a three-decade transmission run run. When? On Friday at five to five, of course!
1960's
We met the cheeky Basil Brush, Dougal the dog at the Magic Roundabout and the affable canine at Hector’s House, who lived with Zsa Zsa the cat and endured Kiki the neighbouring frog. Johnny Morris voiced some of the attractions at Bristol Zoo on Animal Magic while Teds Big and Little were among the toys at Play School, whose presenter Brian Cant also voiced the characters Windy Miller, PC McGarry (no 452) and co at Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley. Enthusiastically, we posted our drawings to the Vision On gallery and our pocket money for the charities supported by Magpie.
1970's
Wimbledon Common became much tidier after the arrival of The Wombles gang. grange hill delivered a gritty view of school life, and shenanigans of a gentler kind between wobbly outlined neighbours Roobarb and Custard kept us entertained at teatime. it was a permanent bad hair day for Crystal Tipps and alistair. geoffrey, Zippy, Bungle and co took up residence in the Rainbow house, while a disused london bus was the den of the musical gang on here Come The Double Deckers. Worzel gummidge came to life in Ten acre Field and The Tomorrow People enthralled us with their special paranormal abilities.
1980's
Postman Pat and his black and white cat Jess first started their rounds in rural Greendale, while over on the Isle of Sodor, the feisty Thomas The Tank Engine and his friends pulled into a TV station for the very first time. Byker Grove introduced us to the fresh-faced duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and we also met the less fresh-faced Super Gran who wowed us with her super powers. Button Moon made us view our kitchen utensils in a completely new light and Roland Rat managed to simultaneously entice an audience and save an ailing television network. Yeahhh!