The best-loved children's TV from the 60s and 70s

1. The Herbs

• Original UK air date: February 12, 196
• Channel: BBC1  

Parsley the Lion was a kindly-faced sweetheart (despite being a toy lion), who always saw the funny side, while fellow cast member Dill the Dog was in contrast more of a boisterous canine scamp.

And there, looking back on it, rests much of the timeless appeal of The Herbs; something magical for both quieter and more gregarious children, and for cat and dog lovers alike.

Among The Herbs’ other memorable main characters were gruff Sage the Owl, haughty Lady Rosemary, habitual knitter Aunt Mint, Constable Knapweed the old school police officer, and in a brief Sixties nod to diversity Indian snake charmer, Pashana Bedhi, who slept on a bed of nails. Well, don’t forget, The Beatles hadn’t long been back from their ashram.

2. Trumpton

• Original UK air date: January 3, 1967
• Channel: BBC1 

The toy Trumpton fire engine was aa absolute must-have toy among young boys in the early 1970s.

Now whatever happened to it, with Captain Flack in charge and “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub” aboard? Who knows. You can probably still find one on eBay, perhaps?

Trumpton was the archetypal English fantasy town of care and community. That feeling was encapsulated at the start of each Trumpton episode, when the late, great Brian Cant pronounces: "Here is the clock, the Trumpton clock. Telling the time, steadily, sensibly; never too quickly, never too slowly. Telling the time for Trumpton”.

3. The Clangers

• Original UK air date: November 16, 1969
• Channel: BBC1 

Like so many of the classic children’s telly shows of its vintage, not a great deal of consequence happens among the whistling moon-dwelling Clangers. The imagination was simply permitted to fill in the gaps, and let the magic reign.

But the surprise appearances of The Soup Dragon in the original – and incomparably the best – incarnation of the series always provide a madcap moment of spoon-banging delight. 

4. Bagpuss

• Original UK air date: February 12, 1974
• Channel: BBC2

Bagpuss is still one of the most beloved children’s programme of all time. And it’s easy to see why.

Modish mid-’70s love of Victoriana and a hankering for times past tug the heartstrings in all the right places, for all ages, on Bagpuss. And that along with the old-fashioned virtues of good storytelling, and the magical realism of Bagpuss’ friends in the funny old shop springing into life when the sleepy old moggy wakes from his slumbers.

The old cloth cat may have been saggy, and a bit loose at the seams, but Bagpuss still taps into deep, primal childhood feelings of warmth and nurture. No wonder Emily - and the rest of us - loved him. 

5. Pipkins

• Original UK air date: January 1, 1973
• Channel: ITV

Pipkins was a curious one. At first sight, Pipkins was a kind of children’s Steptoe & Son, with puppets in the lead roles instead of the incendiary twosome of Corbett and Brambell.

The series was about Pipkin, a puppet maker. who ran his shop with help of talking animals and his assistant Wayne - the puppets included a pig, hare, ostrich, monkey and tortoise.

6. Magpie

• Original UK air date: July 30, 1968
• Channel: ITV

Children’ magazine show Magpie was intended to be a hip alternative to Blue Peter. Each episode was broadcast live and had a focus on popular culture as well as challenges and regular segments - Captain Fantastic starred David Jason as the raincoated Captain and Denise Coffee as the Evil Mrs Black.

7. Mr Benn

• Original UK air date: February 25, 1971
• Channel: BBC1

There were just 13 episodes, yet Mr Benn remains fixed in the memories of people of a certain age.

Mr Benn was a bowler hat, suit-wearing gentleman who would leave his home at 52 Festive Road, London and visit a fancy-dress shop. There he would try on an costume and then leave through a back door into a magical world. He would return to normal life after his adventure, but would always been left with a small souvenir.

This thrill-seeking city gent in the pinstriped suit and bowler remains a class act.

8. Rentaghost

• Original UK air date: January 6, 1976
• Channel: ITV

A ghost-rental business would be unlikely to get off the ground these days, but in 1976 times were different and this children’s drama series has nostalgically endured.

Much of Rentaghost’s sustainability in popular TV culture is down to breezy dialogue, perky plots and an ensemble of accomplished performers in the cast, including that great panto dame Christopher Biggins, the late Michael Staniforth as Timothy Claypole and Audrey Roberts out of Corrie (the real-life Sue Nicholls). 

9. Crackerjack

• Original UK air date: September 14, 1955
• Channel: BBC

We have the loud kids’ Friday funtime telly riot Crackerjack to thank for the sadly unrepeated feat of making cabbages essential primetime viewing.

Crackerjack’s genius chiefly comprised of sustaining the attention of a hangar-full of shrieking schoolchildren. The Double or Drop, with the essential cabbages, was a chance for kids to win great prizes or drop everything and look like a fool on prime TV.

10. Rainbow

• Original UK air date: November 12, 1972
• Channel: ITV

Rainbow was a puppet show programme for pre-school children. Presenter Geoffrey lived in the Rainbow House with his puppet friends Bungle, George and Zippy and a human-sized bear called Bungle.

Singing trio Rod, Jane and Freddy joined in the storylines and as the show increased in popularity celebrity guests would make an appearance.   Rainbow remained hugely popular up until 1992 when the last episode aired.

All together now… “Paint the whole world with a rainbow”

11. Tiswas

• Original UK air date: January 5, 1974
• Channel: ITV 

Tiswas was chaotic and anarchic. Headed by Chris Tarrant it was essential Saturday morning viewing.

Sally James was co-presenter with Chris Tarrant. Lenny Henry was a regular, sending up newsreader Trevor McDonald. Bob Carolgees and Spit the Dog were a regular fixture and even Jasper Carrot popped in.

Other memorable features were the Dying Fly dance, the Phantom Flan Flinger, gunking parents in cages and the little boy clutching a carrot and dressed up as a rabbit with his unique take on the song 'Bright Eyes.'

12. Monkey Magic, 1978

• Original UK air date: November 16, 1928
• Channel: BBC

This was a very strange series. A small band of pilgrims travel through a magical land to fetch the holy scriptures to save the world.

The title character was the mischievous King of the Monkeys. He'd been imprisoned for offending heaven and as penance he had to accompany a boy priest Tripitaka on the perilous journey from China to India. Other characters included Pigsy, river monster Sandy and a dragon. It was a blend martial arts action, Chinese myth, Buddhist philosophy, and a few jokes. 

Monkey was all uproarious, fantasy fun, outrageously over the top, impossibly exotic and deeply loopy.