CBBC at 30: The 'Broom Cupboard'

I've just finished watching Hackers Birthday Bash - 30 years of Children's BBC on iplayer and it brought back soo many memories of presenters from the past.  I didn't recognise all of them, my prime CBBC years being probably 1987 to 1997 but these ones certainly shaped my past.

Before 1985 the BBC did show many many programmes fir children but these were shown independently with an voice-over in between, at 3.55pm on 9 September 1985 Phillip Schofield entered the 'Broom Cupboard' and the format changed.  Now there were live presenters doing the continuity links for the programmes.  The presenters sat behind a large control desk in a very small room, nicknamed the 'Broom Cupboard' where they talked to callers, read letters and birthday cards and filled the gaps when a programme didn't run to plan.

Here's my run down of the presenters that shaped my childhood...

Flashback Friday: Story Teller (and Little Story Teller)

Here we go 'round the mountain

singing our very own song.

When we're on our way

we shout "hooray!"

With a rat-a-tat-tat and a bing bang bong.

Doris and Morris, those adorable little magic hamsters ... Gobbilino ... Timbertwig ... My Naughty Little Sister ... Aldo in Arcadia and Digby.  

Mulit-coloured cassettes ... boxes ... binders...colourful magazines full of stories, puzzles and things to make and do.

  ..... Happy Happy memories.

Flashback Friday - Look and Read (part 1): Through The Dragon's Eye.

I was going through the bookcase last weekend to work out what to read in our Chapter Book Challenge when I uncovered my old copy of Through the Dragon's Eye.  Slightly battered and every bit it's 23 years old but there none the less to enjoy with my kids,  But it wasn't the book that sparked my love of Through the Dragons Eye (tho at least I couldn't see scary Charn in text) but the TV
series,  The 10 x 20 minute episodes of Look and Read, shown in the Music Room when I was in Primary School.

 Once a week we would file into the little room, sit cross legged on the carpet and eagerly await the tales from Pelamar on our BBC VHS (not live as I was only 7 when it first aired in 1989 and I am sure it was the juniors, possibly year 6 when we watched it).  My teacher always brought the teachers notes in with her, a folder of activity and helpful hints for the 'working out' elements.  Not that I can ever remember her opening and using them.  Thanks to YouTube I can now share the enjoyment with my 2 boys

Flashback Friday - The Jetsons

Meet George Jetson
His boy, Elroy
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife




The Jetsons originally aired way before I was born in 1962/3 before repeating with additional new episodes from 1984-87.  It has been repeated recently on Boomerang.

Flashback Friday - The Spooks of Bottle Bay

The Spooks of Bottle Bay was shown on CITV between 1993 and 1995.  It was created by Ian Allen.

The show features Sidney Sludge and his horrible brother and sister Sybil and Cedric Sludge, as well as his faithful dog Maxwell.   At nighttime the Bottle Bay Spooks come out to tease poor Sid.

There are a number of Spooks who live in the Bay who put on their sheets and come to life, the main ones being Sally, Fred and Baby Spook.

Ghost Train and Gimmie 5

Back in the days (1989 - 1994) when Nobby really was a non-laughed at name for a sheep were
Ghost Train and Gimmie 5.

Hours and hours were spent watching these fantastic series which ran ALL MORNING on ITV on Saturdays for children. Not everything on them was to my taste... so I'd move over to see what BBC were offering (but that's for another post)

Here's One We Made Earlier .... a history of Children's BBC @The Lowry

As my #FlashbackFriday posts will hopefully have shown you I love living in the past.  I am convinced that children's TV past is far better then it is today, but perhaps that's my age as when I sit the boys down with some of the old programmes they find them boring (eeek how dare they!!).  So when I was told about the 'Here's One We Made Earlier' exhibition at The Lowry in Manchester I was counting down the days until I could take the boys.

This exhibition explores the story of over 90 years of BBC Children's broadcasting, from 1922, when the BBC launched Children's Hour, right up to the present multi-media moment with plenty of interactive exhibits along the way. This is something you need to keep an eye on, whilst some of the things are touchable a lot are not, however you have to spot a tiny sign before your excited children do which is not always easy.

Flashback Friday - Slap Bands/ bracelets

So today I got a reallly exciting parcel from RNLI, and... without giving too much away right now ... it took me back to the exciting fashion accessory of the late 80's/ early 90's .... Slap bands/ bracelets.

I remember the fun we had.... until they got banned... of taking these bands made of layered, flexible stainless steel bistable spring bands sealed within a fabric cover into school and hitting them against the forearm which caused the bands to spring back into a curve and wrap around the wrist, securing the bracelet to the wearer.  Once coiled you could easily straighten it out and start again.

Flashback Friday - Portland Bill

Oh come with me to the rolling sea

While the weathers calm and still.

And we'll have some fun and laughter with

The adventures of Portland Bill.

This animation aired in 1983 (as I was only born in 1982 and remember it fondly I guess it was repeats that I remember). It featured 26 x 11 minute programmes, each programme consisting of 2 x 5 min episodes.
     
Portland Bill is the keeper of the Trinity House lighthouse, on Guillermot Rock, he is ably assisted (or not) by red-capped Ross and goatee bearded Cromarty. Lets not forget Dogger - Bill's pet pooch.

Flashback Friday - Time Busters

Many people remember Knightmare but how many remember Broadswords smaller run, BBC2 show Time Busters?

For me the main memory are the big red bus and the catchphrase "Time Busters Go...Go Go Go Go".  Like my memory of being Alana, The Girl from Tomorrow, I distinctly remember jumping over the top of my mums sofa (quite a lot) bring a Time Buster.

flashback friday - paddington bear

I may have already mentioned our new favourite kids TV channel "Tiddlers TV", well it came up trumps again last week when it started showing episodes of "Paddington Bear"  from the 80's.

This is nothing like the new generation of Paddington Bear - the originals were a strange form of animation.  Paddington himself was a 3D puppet who moves between 2D animated scenes, characters and buildings.

Tuneful Tuesday - Autumn Days

Which songs do you remember from your school days?  The other week we fondly remembered "The Paintbox Song" .... this week "Autumn Days"  take the number one spot.

.  ..apologies in advance for the youtube clip, it was the only one I could find
  ..... what are you thankful for?


All together now.........................

.

Flashback Friday - The Girl from Tomorrow

Picture the scene, an 8 year old me saving the world with an alice band around my forehead with a 'jewel' (read piece of paper) stuck in the middle.  I also have 3 dots on the side of my face (thanks to mums eyeliner pencil!). Who else could I have been but Alana, The Girl From Tomorrow. 

The Girl from Tomorrow was another Australian born children's television series broadcast in 1990 with a sequel in 1993.  Each series aired 12 x 25 minute episodes and aired on the BBC in the UK.

It was based around Alana, a girl from the year 3000. who was kidnapped by Silverthorn, a criminal from the year 2500, and brought back in time to the year 1990.  Confused yet?  Funnily enough it wasn't to a child!

Flashback Friday - Dangermouse

He's the greatest,

He's fantastic,

Wherever there is danger he'll be there!

Hes the ace,

He's amazing,

He's the strongest, he's the quickest, he's the best!

Dangermouse,

Dangermouse,

Dangermouse!

If rumours are to be believed then Danger Mouse will be returning to our screens in 2015, but with a lot of technological updates.  Whilst I am sure the new generation of children will love it will it really be a patch on this British classic?

Tuneful Tuesday - The Paintbox Song

Which songs do you remember from your school days? for me it was "When the Knight Won his Spurs", "Autumn Days and this one.... "The Paintbox Song".

.  ...do you remember going really quiet when the celery was asleep?
  ..... did you get in trouble for saying "yeahh" at the end?

All together now.........................

.

Flashback Friday - Round the Twist

"Have you ever

Ever felt like this?

When strange things happen

 Are you going round the twist?"

For most people going Round the Twist is may feel like an every day occurrence, for Linda, Pete and Bronson it really WAS an every day reality.

I loved Round The Twist.... well ok I loved the first 2 seasons (based on Paul Jenning's) books that aired on CBBC in 1989 and 1992.  The 2 later ones (2000 and 2001 passed me by, hence this post will focus on 1 and 2).

Flashback Friday - Sharky and George

Sharky and George, crimebusters of the sea, 

Sharky and George, clear up any mystery. 

You sang it didn't you............... if not you must have missed the 52, 25 minute,  episodes.  

Meet the private investigator fish who lived at the bottom of the sea....  Sharky (a pink fish) and George (a blue fish with a yellow face).

Flashback Friday - The Flintstones

Todays post has virtually written itself without me having to think of a flashback.  I was surfing the on demand kids programmes and came across "The Flintstones" ... not just that but Series 1 Episode 1 .... pure nostalgia.

The Flintstones has definitely withstood the test of time.  The animated television sitcom, produced by Hanna-Barbera, was initially broadcast from 1960 to 1966 and I cannot think of a year it hasn't been re-shown on one channel or another.

The Flintstones is about a working-class Stone Age man's (Fred Flintstone) life with his wife (Wilma) and his next-door neighbour and best friend (Barney Rubble and his wife Betty).  As the series went on both families were extended with the introduction of Pebbles (the Flintstone's baby) and Bam Bam (the Rubbles adopted child).

Flashback Friday - Bertha

Bertha, lovely Bertha, you are a lovely machine

Any anyone who works with you will know just what I mean.

Bertha, lovely Bertha, sometimes I thing you're a dream,

When we work out what you have to do,

You can always turn the goods out, always turn the goods out,

We can depend upon you.

A hidden gem of 80s TV that gets blank expressions when I mention it to people.    Perhaps because there was only 13 episodes made and broadcast on BBC in 1985/6, sadly, whilst the DVD (and books if you can get hold of them) remains it was never repeated or revived.

Flashback Friday - The Animals of Farthing Wood

There's not normally a week goes by when we don't get all nostalgic at work, and this week was no different.  We were busy discussing Children's TV of today and how they don't really give out the same messages as kids TV "in our day".  When every programme gave a message be it of strength or courage or perseverance. Helping others or consequences of your actions.  This brought us onto the long forgotten subject of the Animals of Farthing Wood which teaches us about humans impact on the environment, pollution and ruining forests and a great starting point for discussing death with children.