If you grew up watching 80s
television - you'll no doubt have spent
time reminiscing on the children's television
programmes from back then. Sometimes you
may be reminded of one that you've not heard of for
years, and be drawn into the TV nostalgia.
Remember the classic cartoon He-Man
and the Masters of the Universe, "By
the power of Greyskull", Skeletor, and She-Ra
- Princess of Power?
Remember the 80s TV classic
- Button Moon
- with Mr and Mrs Spoon, and Tina - who regularly
set off in their rocket to fly to a yellow button?
What about Jamie
and the Magic Torch? - the animated 80s
TV series in which Jamie shines his torch
onto his bedroom floor creating a psychedelic hole
through which there is a multi-coloured helter skelter
(surreal entertainment!). He and his dog Wordsworth
ride the slide and arrive through the bottom of a
tree onto a bouncy target - into a strange world were
characters such as Mr Boo live. Quite a surreal
1980s show!
Fraggle Rock - the
animated 80s tv show with puppets, humans, and a dog
- ran from 1983 until 1987. The Fraggles live
behind a hole in the wall of Doc and Sprocket - his
dog. They are small furry creatures - the main
ones being Gobo, Mokey, Red, Boober, and Wembley.
The Fraggles tower above the Doozers - the workers
of Fraggle Rock with their hard-hats and tool belts.
The Fraggles have to compete with the giant
creatures - the Gorgs. The Gorgs think they
rule the rock - with the memorable raddish patch and
talking Trash Heap in their garden. Let's also
not forget Gobo's uncle travelling Matt - who sends
postcards telling of his journeys in outer space (earth).
Mr Merlin was
a short lived eighties TV show - which ran from 1981-1982.
It followed the story of Max Merlin (Barnard
Hughes), a Mechanic/Magician, and his apprentice Zac
- both trying to keep their magical abilities a secret.
Inspector Gadget(1983-1985)
- an 80s cartoon TV series still almost as popular
today as it was in the 1980s - featured Inspector
Gadget, his Niece Penny, her dog Brain, and their
enemy Dr Claw. Gadget - injured as a rookie
- was armed with amazing gadgetry abilities during
an operation. The mission message delivered
by Chief Quimby would always self-destruct. Penny
used her talking computer book to solve the crimes,
whilst Gadget - blissfully ignorant of her involvement
would think that it was all his own work!
Remember the animated programme - Portland
Bill with Ross and Cromarty, and the dog
- Dogger?
Cockleshell Baybegan
as short story clips within Rainbow (a long
running children's TV programme also in a lunchtime
slot - which spanned the 80s) and later became a full
separate show. This animated TV series focused
on Robin and Rosie Cockle who's parents ran a guest
house called The Bucket and Spade. Other characters
included Mr Ship, Paddy Fingal and his donkey Fury,
Ben Gunn - the Seagull, and Gran Routy - who would
call them in to eat their Cheese and Chutney sandwiches.
