My four favourite 1980s children’s TV programmes

Yesterday I found myself, as you do, thinking about Pigeon Street. In particular, ‘long distance Clara’. Now that was a female role model ahead of her time – on the road, driving her juggernaut, not a care in the world.

I’m not normally a YouTube kind of girl, but it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and I thought I would indulge myself in a little, and had a browse of some of my favourites. First up then, Pigeon Street:

Then off course you’ve got Dungeons and Dragons. There was something I particularly loved about this one, especially the opening credits. There was something every Narniaesque about it that really appealed – the idea that something quite normal could be a gateway to another world. There was something wonderfully sad as well about their constant struggle to find their way home.

One programme that made a big impression on me, but which no one else I spoke to remembered, was Tottie, The Story of a Doll’s House. Tottie was the very first programme aimed at children to contain a murder, and the episode where Birdie melts trying to save Apple in a fire deliberately started by the evil doll Marchpane pretty much scarred me for life.

This is the episode where Marchpane comes to live in the doll’s house. You can see what a meany she is.

Finally, who could fail to love Dogtanian and the three Muskehounds?

One for all and all for one!

What were your favourite TV programmes when you were little?

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10 Comments

  1. Andy Chubb
    11 February, 2013 / 1:06 pm

    I dont remember the doll one, but the other 3 were amongst my favourites.
    Others to consider –
    He-Man
    She-ra
    Jossys Giants
    and my personal favourite Banana Man

  2. 11 February, 2013 / 2:53 pm

    I don’t really remember Tottie on tv, but I loved the book.

  3. 11 February, 2013 / 2:55 pm

    I liked all of those and Thundercats, the mysterious cities of gold and the one where they all stood o each others shoulders, span round and became a pheonix. No idea what it was called

    • Dibs
      11 February, 2013 / 4:18 pm

      I think the Phoenix one you’re thinking of is G-Force, 3 boys, 1 girl & a robot; loved that show.

  4. Mandie Leenheer
    11 February, 2013 / 3:32 pm

    Do you remember “Runaround” or something like that. Children had to answer multiple choice questions but they were given the chance to change their mind- hence “runaround” :)

  5. Dibs
    11 February, 2013 / 4:27 pm

    Before watching the clip of the Doll’s House I couldn’t remember it at all, but after watching the clips it seemed so incredibly familiar that I must have watched it but probably banished it from my memory after the fire incident!
    Its great seeing these clips & knowing I’m not on my own in remembering them all – hubby is 6 years older than me & has no recollection of any of these & best friend is 6 years younger so childhood programmes are agian complteley different.
    I’m amazed they haven’t done a re-write on Dungeons & Dragons like they’ve done on Thundercats (so incredibly disappointed in the new version, Snarf talks & doesn’t ‘snarf’ as much as he should).
    Others I absolutely loved were Jamie & his Magic Torch, Chorlton & the wheelies (with the ‘lickle old laydee’ witch) & the raggedy dolls.

  6. 11 February, 2013 / 8:24 pm

    We did not have any of the programmes you mentioned in Poland when I was growing up…I loved Sesame street though!

  7. Simon Howes
    14 February, 2013 / 12:25 pm

    My favourite programmes were Magic School Bus and Captain Planet…

    • admin
      15 February, 2013 / 9:37 am

      Ooh, I’ve not heard of either of those! Are they UK or US things?

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