Some Of The TV Programmes We Loved To Watch
Here you'll find a list of some of the TV programmes we loved to watch as kids.
Some of these shows became real classics and can be found on DVD so you can watch them time and again.
I'm already planning to bore my grandchildren with my favourite cartoons.
I remember that Saturday mornings often came down to a choice of either shopping with my parents for the weekly grocery shop or an hour in front of the TV. Swap Shop won everytime!
Use the "Email My Games" link on the Wet Weekend Page to tell me about the shows you enjoyed.
- Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
- Presented by Noel Edmonds, John Craven, Keith Chegwin & Maggie Philbin, this programme was BBC1's flagship Saturday morning show.
A mixture of cartoons, features and interviews with Pop Groups.
There was also a "top 10" board with the "Swaps" people wanted to make.
I think the real novelty of this show was that it was the first programme to be really interactive with kids from all round the country ringing in to the show.
- Why Don't You?
- This programme could either be great fun or absolute dribble!
It's full title was, "Why don't you switch off your television set and go and do something less boring instead?"
Instead of watching TV they meant. But you had to watch the TV in order to find out what they were suggesting you did instead!
It was presented by children drawn from each of the BBC's regions and as a result, had a very amateurish feel.
The show was made up of items presented by the studio team and features filmed in the regions.
- Jackanory
- I remember rushing home from school for "Childrens TV" and one of the programmes I enjoyed the most was Jackanory.
I think the slot they alotted wasn't much more than 10 minutes.
A really simple concept,
the programme featured well known actors/actresses reading a story.
The person reading the story was shown on screen, as were illustrations from the book.
A story could last the week, the programme being shown each school day evening.
Prince Charles famously appeared on Jackanory filmed in his kilt in the Highlands.
- Blue Peter
- Everyone will have watched this at some point, but I remember that we watched during the classic period, when it's popularity was at it's height.
Our three entrepid presenters were, John Noaks, Peter Purvis & Valerie Singleton.
John set up a working partnership with a Border Collie named Shep which got him into all sorts of trouble, while Valerie looked after the cats.
I think this trio's most famous show was the one when they had a baby elephant in the studio that happily "shit" everywhere, John stepping right in it as usual!
The Baron Knights recorded a track in mock tribute to John & Shep and you can here it by clicking Get Down Shep!
- The Banana Splits Show
- I have a feeling this was one of the first American programmes bought for the Saturday Children's slots.
The Splits were a crazy gang of "slap stick clowns" that got into all kinds of bother.
The best parts of the show were the cartoons.
Remember "Arabian Knights?" with the stroppy donkey and the magician who could change into any animal?
He'd just say, "size of an elephant" and "poof" he was an Elephant! It's taken me years of lager and Fish 'n' Chip suppers to achieve the same thing!
- Monkey Magic
- This Cult TV show aired on BBC2 and was a Japanese production.
Monkey, an ape god, just couldn't stay out of trouble as he, Sandy the fish spirit and Pigsy the hog spirit, moved the boy priest, across the Demon riddled worlds.
The Introduction that formed part of the theme to the show can be heard by clicking this download link.
Monkey, Intro & theme
- Our Favourite Cartoons
- See how many of these you remember from childhood.
Whacky Racers, Catch The Pigeon, The Pink Panther Show, Arabian Knights, The Hair Bear Bunch, Road Runner, Tom & Jerry, The Original Scoobey Doo, Jamie & His Magic Torch, Ivor The Engine, Clopper Castle, Charlton & The Wheelies, The Herb Garden, Hector's House, Mary Mungo & Midge, Hong Kong Fuey, Top Cat,
There are a number of websites that list Childrens programmes and have links to DVD's and other memorabilia.
Try this one if your interested.