Children's TV: the weird and the wonderful
 

Whilst looking for a weird game clip, I came across some stuff on Youtube that sent me on a meandering and rather pleasant little trip down memory lane. You know those programmes you watched as a kid, that stuck in your mind and got under your skin. I'll be back every so often as and when I think of others, but for now here are a couple of clips of the programmes that helped make me who I am.

First up, with one of the best openings to any kiddiewink show: Jamie and the Magic Torch



And just for sheer bloody weirdness: Chorlton and the Wheelies .. fantastic opening credits...

this is what i was watching when I was four years old...which thinking about it explains a lot :P I doubt there's a Brit my age who didn't see this show.


Here's one especially for Sundae *grins*

The adventures of the hapless Scarecrow, Wurzel Gummidge:

I think Chorlton and the Wheelies was what set me on a lifetime of passion for the Welsh accent! Even before Ianto. And yes - I did, once. Just for the accent. But I felt dirty after.

For me it was Sport Billy and his handbag - it was the first time I had a theme song to sing along to. And I did. Ad nauseum. I seem to remember Mum telling me I wouldn't be able to watch it any more if I didn't SHUT UP! I liked the Greek gods connection too.

Wattoo Wattoo Super-Bird, just because no-one apart from my bro ever remembers seeing it. I had no idea it was a foreign language cartoon until I grew up. Can't get it to embed. Don't worry, you're not missing much.

And Mooncat. Mooncat more than anything.
I can only find the intro, which will mean nothing to anyone who didn't see it, and is a tease for those that did, sorry :(

We came home for lunch, so got to see the TV programmes of a quarter generation younger than us (if you get what I mean.) Mooncat was on Thursdays, and as I got older Blackadder was also on Thurday (nights) and older yet, I was paid on the last Thursday of every month. It means that even to this day, Thursdays are treasured as a gateway to the weekend.

Oh My God! How could I have forgotten all about Mooncat!?

Which programme had Itsy and Bitsy the spiders in? Were the in the Fingermouse programme?

Fingermouse was great.

Itsy and Bitsy were just Itsy and Bitsy as far as I remember.
Fingerbobs was just Fingerbobs!

I always saw the one with the crow, who had to add pebbles to his glass before he could drink. Or was it the seagull? That and the scampi, that looked nothing like the scampi on my plate - and scared me slightly.

And of course, I forgot my ultimate - BAGPUSS.
Bless his name forever. What a gentle, instructive, wordy programme it was.
Again, I credit another children's programme with a life-long love, although this one is a bit more realistic. Oliver Postgate's sonorous tones set me up for a love of poetry and an appreciation of the spoken word. Bagpuss, the Clangers and Ivor the Engine (yes, the Welsh again!)



Any wonder my quarter-generation rejected the American imports? It took about another five years until programmes like Sesame Street took root here. We grew up on subtlety and RP. And I loved it.

I used to do a kickass Ivor impression:)

There is nothing subtle about this!

The Muppet Show. :)

Itsy and Bitsy were from Paperplay.

i loved them. :D

My fave was the Clangers. I was DEVASTATED when i learned they were knitted. Foe my birthday once my MIL knitted me a couple of clangers (bless her and beest -neither of them had any idea how much the knittedness of the clangers bothered me)

oooh ooh , and for our Ivory Wedding anniv last year, beest made me a card with ivor the Engine on it! :lol:

Paperplay: Itsy and bitsy

Itsy and Bitsy! Oh I loved them sooo much. Paperplay was an awesome programme. Thanks for that Monnie:)

The Muppet Show was never intended for children, although Fraggle Rock was, ostensibly.

Seeing your children's television helps to understand how you got to be that way.

We had

Shall we start on The Magic Roundabout?

We have been watching Jonny Quest on Boomerang lately, we watched as kids and now my kids love it although very un-pc (violent AND racist)

I'm not entirely sure I ever got off the roundabout...