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?
30. Rainbow
1972–1997, ITV
Many questions remain unanswered about this deceptively innocent show. Was Zippy our first small screen anti-hero? Was it all a psychedelic dream? And why did Bungle wear pyjamas?
29. Flower Pot Men/ Bill And Ben
Various years, BBC
A simple setting and straw-thin plots, consisting mainly of them saying “flobbalob” while friend Little Weed chimed in with “weeeed”, didn’t stop two characters fashioned out of clay pots exerting a unique grip on the nation’s imagination.
28. Press Gang
1989-93, ITV
Before he dazzled us with Sherlock and Doctor Who, Steven Moffat cut his writing teeth on this children’s drama, which received plaudits for its honesty and humour and made stars out of Julia Sawalha and Dexter Fletcher.
27. The Adventures of Parsley
1970-71, BBC
This five-minute show started life as a spin-off from The Herbs, but the adventures of Parsley the lion and Dill the dog, along with their deceptively deadpan dialogue, soon earned a dedicated fanbase.
26. Postman Pat
1981–present, BBC1
Pat Clifton may have been no more than a stop-motion postman, but an inexhaustible supply of perils and parcels made him the star of his own TV series for more than 30 years, leaving just one question — exactly how old was that cat?
25. Horrible Histories
2009–present, BBC
Terry Deary’s tales of “history with the nasty bits left in” managed the unthinkable — making impenetrable chapters of the past both factually accurate and highly entertaining for children. A deserved critical and ratings triumph.
24. Dick & Dom In Da Bungalow
2002–2006, BBC
Unfathomable games, a T-shirt that earned an Ofcom reprimand and questions in Parliament regarding lavatorial humour… None of which distracted the eponymous hosts from their main mission: to cover themselves and every guest in creamy muck muck.
23. Bagpuss
1974, BBC
Bagpuss may not have been the most dynamic of cloth cats, but with his striped coat and tall tales, he remains the most memorable. Only 13 episodes of his iconic show were ever made.
22. The Record Breakers
1972–2001, BBC
The world record for TV host best suited to his show must belong to Roy Castle, who tap-danced into history, claimed nine Guinness records himself, and proved over and over again that if you want to be the best — and, er, beat the rest — dedication really is what you need.
21. Finders Keepers
1991–2006, ITV
Teams had to raid rooms for hidden objects, clues and prizes. Highlights included children’s innate competitiveness, cameo celebrity appearances and, in Neil Buchanan, a host from the Timmy Mallett school of relentless enthusiasm.
