The 50 greatest children's TV Shows of all time
RT’s stellar panel of experts have cast their votes for shows from Blue Peter to Clangers – but who came out on top?
40. Teletubbies
1997–2001, 2015–present, BBC
With tellies in their tummies and antennae on their heads, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and Po, together with blue vacuum cleaner Noo-Noo and a delightfully squealing sun-child, captivated pre-schoolers and students alike. Now they are watched all over the world. Tinky Winky isn’t saying bye bye any time soon.
39. Hangar 17
1992–1994, BBC
For a fleeting moment in the early 90s schoolchildren had their own variety show, presented by stand-up comedian Mickey Hutton and featuring jugglers, mime artists and comics. If you were 13 and just home from school you loved it (and if you were Simon Cowell, you took notes and devised Britain’s Got Talent).
38. Chucklevision
1987–2009, BBC
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The CBBC generation’s answer to Laurel and Hardy, the Chuckle Brothers got themselves into an unending vortex of slapstick scrapes: stepping into paint pots, standing on hosepipes and dishing out catchphrases for 21 series.
37. Chorlton And The Wheelies
1976–1979, ITV
Long before wheelies became synonymous with rubbish bins, this animation series was set in Wheelie World, where the Wheelies’ peace of mind was often threatened by a lack of wheels and the evil machinations of Fenella the Kettle Witch. Fortunately, they also had Chorlton, the happiness dragon.
36. Roger And The Rottentrolls
1996–2000, BBC
More rotten puppet action in the valley of Troller’s Ghyll, where young Roger fell off his bike and met the Rottentrolls — a charming bunch of three-foot-high creatures who stopped squabbling long enough to make him their king.
35. Why Don't You..?
1973–1995, BBC
Inspired by a theme tune every fan can still sing, teams of schoolchildren read out hobby suggestions from viewers who’d written in, and ended up riding horses or cutting out star shapes. Definitely more innocent times.
34. Wacaday
1985–1992, TV-am, ITV
A man born for children’s TV, Timmy Mallett presided over an ambitious six series a year. A peculiar ITV mix of education and entertainment, young viewers would endure overseas cultural videos in the hope they were only an ad break away from the simple delights of Drop Your Toast and Mallett’s Mallet.
33. Get Your Own Back
1991–2004, BBC
Children ganged up on an adult guilty of a “crime” and made them take part in a humiliating series of games, before being gunged in the finale. These days, they would simply be arrested.
32. The Really Wild Show
1986–2006, returning 2018, BBC
Terry Nutkins led the team bringing their enthusiasm for wildlife to the screen. Viewers tuned in for dancing with dolphins, cuddles with koalas and a young Chris Packham’s hair (which really was wild).
31. Junior Showtime
1969–1974, ITV
Long before Simon Cowell built his talent factory, this show gifted wannabes their chance to shine — and gave the nation Bonnie Langford, Joe Longthorne and Lisa Stansfield.
