Tuesday 7 January 2014

Stick ‘Em Up!

Or stick them on …to your letters [if you still send real letters, and are rich enough to afford first class stamps] The new Children’s TV stamps go on sale today. Here’s a nostalgia fest for you all…

childrens tv stamps 07 01 14

  • Andy Pandy First screened in 1950, Andy Pandy co-starred with Teddy and Looby Loo. I thought it was very odd the way they lived all in that basket
  • Ivor the Engine Ivor the Engine worked in the ‘top left-hand corner of Wales’ from 1959. Oliver Postgate narrated
  • Dougal - The Magic Roundabout Created by Serge Danot, it made its UK debut in 1965. Rewritten in English by Eric Thompson [father of Emma, and husband of Phyllida Law]
  • Windy Miller - Camberwick Green Broadcast from 1966, narrated by Play School’s Brian Cant. Wonderful man!
  • Mr Benn Mr Benn appeared in 1971, the shopkeeper appeared ‘as if by magic’. By David McKee who also gave us Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
  • Great Uncle Bulgaria - The Wombles. The Wombles introduced us all to the idea of recycling way back in 1973.
  • Bagpuss This ‘saggy old cloth cat’ first appeared on our Television screens in 1974. And Emily loved him. Another Postgate Triumph
  • Paddington Bear. The bear from Darkest Peru found TV stardom in 1975. Jeremy Clarkson’s parents got rich making the toy bears!
  • Postman Pat The friendly postman first appeared in 1981, together with his cat Jess. In the days before they sold off the Royal Mail! [btw his surname is Clifton]
  • Bob the Builder Can he fix it? Yes he can, and he’s been doing so ever since 1998. He has no surname. I’m quite fond of Bobs who can fix things!
  • Peppa Pig This lovable and cheeky little pig celebrates her 10th anniversary in 2014. She’s that old??!!
  • Shaun the Sheep Following ‘A Close Shave’ in 1995, Shaun graduated to TV in 2007. From the talented Aardman Studios

I am rather relieved that neither Teletubbies nor Iggle Piggle have made it on to this list of ‘classics’. Does that make me a snob?

Who is your favourite out of this lot? Which did you watch as a child, with younger siblings, with your own offspring, or your grandchildren?

21 comments:

  1. Ooooooo! Woodentops with .the very biggest spotty dog you ever did see

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  2. And "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub" as in Trumpton

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  3. Let's not forget their musical triumphs too - The Wombles has several hits in the mid 70s courtesy of Mike Batt, and Bob The Builder made Christmas No 1 in (I think) 2001.

    The Bagpuss theme is played on a ukulele - must get practicing!

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    1. We had a Wombles LP. Hadn't realised the ukelele connection!

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  4. But where are The Herbs?
    We didn't miss one episode of Magic Roundabout!

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    1. I had quite forgotten Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary, and Parsley the crazy dog. Thanks for the reminder. All written by Michael Bond, the Paddington author.

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  5. Unfortunately, all my memories are of the ones near the top of the list - very aging. As a child it was important to declare which camp you were in - Blue Peter or Magpie? We watched BP, no idea why we couldn't watch both.

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    1. Oh definitely BP! Were the programmes on at the same time? nobody had video recorders in those days- if you missed it, that was just tough!

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    2. We watched Blue Peter at home, and Magpie if we stayed at my grandparents'. I suspect this was because my parents didn't really approve of ITV whereas my Nan was addicted to wrestling and Crossroads!

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  6. Picture book on Mondays, Andy Pandy on Tuesdays, Bill and Ben on Wednesdays, Rag Tag and Bobtail on Thursdays ( we used to miss this one as we always went on the bus to town on Thursdays) And MY favourite The Woodentops on Fridays. How on earth can I remember more than 50 years ago?

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    1. Picture Book was such fun, especially when she made things I could recreate at home with Mum or Dad.

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  7. Being American, none of these part of my childhood, but my lovely UK friend Kathryn introduced my boys to Postman Pat, who I grew quite fond of.

    xofrances

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    1. But you had Sesame Street over there - which I have always considered to be brilliant

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  8. It would have to be Andy Pandy! I remember watching it as a very little girl with my mum, and usually a toasted teacake in front of the fire!
    And later Captain Pugwash, which is now thought to have been very rude and is discredited but I have to say I took it all at face value. Any innuendo was completely lost on me at the time.

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    1. A lot of the alleged 'innuendo' is urban myth - the 'rude' character names were invented much later, and were never part of the series. Take a look at Snopes for the lowdown: http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/pugwash.asp

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    2. Thanks for pointing that out [I cannot imagine my Mum would have let me watch it if it was rude!]

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  9. My favourite isn't there (The Wooden tops).
    I do have a pair of Bagpuss socks though..my chiropractor is rather taken with them!
    Jane x

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  10. Andy Pandy! Watch with mother!

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  11. Maybe the Woodentops will get their own stamps later, they seem very popular among bloggers

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  12. The wooden tops were my favourites, I loved spotty dog. My grandson has introduced me to Shaun the Sheep which I find wonderful, full of wit and humour.

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  13. Oh Mr Benn- the boys eyes nearly glaze over when I start to rave about Mr Benn!

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