Memorable TV

UK / BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1985

Writer: William Corlett / Novel: Robert Westall 

Period children's drama serial. During World War II, a group of shrapnel collecting schoolkids get hold of a machine gun from a crashed German plane and later tangle with a German pilot.

With:- SHAUN TAYLOR as Chas McGill / DEBBIE BREEN as Audrey Parton / TONY SAINT as Gem Jones /  PAUL BUTCHER as Colin Spaulding / ALASTAIR CRAIG as Nicky Nichol / ANDREW CRAIG as Clogger Duncan 

USA / Family Channel / 33x30m-e / 1993

Animated drama series about the adventures of red haired Madeline living a boarding house in France with a group of other kids. Christopher Plummer was narrator and a series of specials (six of them) had been seen in 1990 and 1991.

Voices:- TRACEY-LEE SMYTH as Madeline / A.J. BOND as Pepito / LOUISE VALLANCE as Miss Clavel / FRENCH TICKNER as Lord Cucuface / KRISTIN FAIRLIE as Nicole / VANESSA KING as Chloe

UK / Carlton / x25m-e / 1999-continuing

Executive Producers: Michael Forte, David Mercer / Producer: Rob Benfield

Live entertainment series with music, games and competitions. Presenters: SEASON 1: Mike McClean and Yiolanda Tokkallos / FROM SEASON 2:  Danielle Nicholls, Simon Amstell

Australia / SBS-Independant Prod. / 13x30m-e / 1985 (First Episode Broadcast: 13 January)

Creator: Marcia Hatfield / Producer: Jim George / Executive Producer: Richard Davis / Director: William Fitzwater

Musical puppet series designed to introduce kids to opera, the setting was a run down opera house (the Bijou Theatre in Balmain) in which a bunch of puppet opera singers performed from the classics like Carmen and Aida. The puppets only audience was two children.

With:- JUSTINE CLARKE / ADAM WILLITS / ROSS BROWNING / ALAN HIGHFIELD / BEN FRANKLIN / PETER SEABORN / JANET ASHELFORD 

UK/Canada / BBC1/Kudos/ Forefront / 12x30m-e  / 1999-2001 (Serial One: 31 October - December 5 Sundays 6.05pm)

Writer: William Corlett from his novels (books 1&2) / Music: Ken Williams / Titles: Kemistry / Producers: Helene Cynamon, Stephen Garrett / Director: Paul Lynch 

Two Fantasy serials. When three children arrive at their Uncle Jack's ancient and large house for Christmas, they meet the time travelling magician who has a special mission in store for them. 

With:- IAN RICHARDSON as Stephen Tyler/The Magician / NEIL PEARSON as Jack Green / SIAN PHILLIPS as Meg Lewis / JENNIFER SAUNDERS as Voice of the Rat / KATIE STUART as Mary Green /  CHRISTOPHER REDMAN as Matthew / OLIVIA COLES as Alice Constant / STEVEN WEBB as William Constant / KATE GREENHOUSE as Phoebe Taylor / MARTIN EVANS as Kev / MATTHEW WALKER as Arthur / TIM CADENY as  Dave / BERNARD CUFFLING as Mr Parsons 

Australia / Pacific-Roger Mirams / x30m-e / 1965

Executive Producer: Roger Mirams

Fantasy drama series.

With:- DAVID MORGAN / TELFORD JACKSON / PENNY SHELTON / RODNEY PEARLMAN

UK-France / BBC1 / 302 x 5m-e / 1965-77

Creator: Serge Danot / Writer: Eric Thompson

Stop frame animated series. A French show turned into a British classic. The stories of young Florence who travels to a magic garden with her bouncy pal Zebedeee and has adventures with all the other creatures there including Dougal the Dog, Dylan the spaced out Rabbit, Ermintrude the Cow, Brian the Snail, and Mr MacHenry with his magic bicycle. Narrator and writer Eric Thompson ignored the original French scripts and instead produced a show ideal for the trippy, swinging sixties. In 1992 Channel Four bought the rights to a further 52 French shows not seen in Britain. Thompson had died so Nigel Planer stepped in to provide the script adaptions and narration.  

USA / South Carolina ETV-Nelvan-Scolastic / x20m-e/ 1997-

Creators: Alison Black, Jane Startz, Kristin Laskas Martin / Books: Joanna Cole, Bruce degan / Theme Music: Peter Lurye / Performed by Little Richard / Executive Producer: Kristin Laskas Martin

Animated series. Young children have fun with a magic bus with most of the stories have an educational slant.

Voices:- LILY TOMLIN / MALCOLM JAMAL-WARNER / CODY JONES / TARA MEYER / DANIEL DE SANTO

UK / ITV / 6x15m-e / 1998

Writer: Marcy Kahan 

Fantasy sitcom.  The exploits of a trainee fairy Godmother who transforms the lives of two orphans who are living with their dour Uncle and Aunt.

With:- AMANDA BABBINGTON as Cat / PETER JEFFREY as Uncle Oz / GWYNETH POWELL as Aunt Matilda / SAM KELLY as Antonio / KATIE HUGHES as Jess / ALEX DAWSON as Toby

USA / Hanna Barbera / 58x25m-e / 1964-65

Executive Producers: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera

Animated comedy. Misadventures of a gorilla living in a pet shop, part of the show was a western send up segment called Ricochet Rabbit.

UK / Thames / 1000+x30m-e / 1968-80

Creator: Susan Turner / Executive Producer: Lewis Rudd

Magazine show. An attempt by ITV to make a show to rival Blue Peter, featuring things to make and do and other fun and games. An early segment saw David Jason in comedy sketch as Captain Fantastic ( a character previously seen in the show Do Not Adjust Your Set ). Magpie began on Thames' first day of broadcasting ( 30 July 1968) and finished  6 June 1980. The shows mascot ( a Magpie obviously) was called Murgatroyd. Initially once a week after a year the show went twice weekly. The days show were Tuesdays/Thursdays (until 1972) then Tuesdays/Fridays(1972-80). Presenters were Pete Brady, Susan Stranks, Jenny Hanley, Mick Robertson, Tony Bastable, Douglas Rae and Tommy Boyd.   

UK / BBC1 / 25x25m-e  1x50m-e / 1989-94

Writer: Tony Robinson / Producer: Richard Callanan / Director: David Bell 

Period sitcom. Twist on the Robin Hood legend in which Maid Marion was the brains and ran the show while Robin was more interested in being a fashion designer. Regular musical moments also popped up on the show. The show was filmed on location at Exmoor National Park.

With:- KATE LONERGAN as Maid Marion / WAYNE MORRIS as Robin / TONY ROBINSON as Sheriff of Nottingham / HOWARD LEW LEWIS as Rabies / DANNY JOHN JULES as Barrington /MIKE EDMONDS as Little Ron / FORBES COLLINS as King John / MARK BILLINGHAM as Gary / DAVID LLOYD as Graeme

USA / ABC News and Public Affairs-Lester Cooper / 96x20m-e / 1971-75

Writer/Director: Lester Cooper

Educational series hosted by Tom Chapin with songs and stories etc.

USA / NBC-Tribune-Peter Engel / x25m-e / 1998-

Creator/Executive Producer: Peter Engel / Theme Music: Jimmy Hammer, Dave Keenan

Teen sitcom. A pair of brothers start a new life when they move with their father from New York to Malibu.

With:- TREVOR MERSZEI / JASON HAYES / WENDI KENYA / BRANDON BROOKS / GINA MARIE MAY / ED BLATCHFORD as Peter Collins

UK / BBC / 6x25m-e / 1972 30 January - 7 February

Writer: Peter Dickinson / Producer: Anna Home / Directors: Paul Stone, Anna Home 

Scifi drama serial. A group of 26th century renegades escape into present day 1972, where a trio of schoolkids help them evade capture from Police of the future. The came about because the leader of the renegades had his mind transferred into young Sammy's dog.

With:- CAROL HAZELL as Kate / JAYNE ANTHONY as Sammy / ADRIAN SHERGOLD as Duncan / ROY BOYD as Henry / MOLLIE SUGDEN as Mrs Morris / JOHN RAPLEY as Mr Morris / DEREK MARTIN as Gala One / RAY TAYLOR as Gala Two

Japan / Japan TeleCartoons-7Arts / 78x30m-e / 1969-70

Producer: Hinoru  Adachi

Animated scifi drama series. Marine Boy works for Ocean Patrol a peace keeping organisation that his father runs. Marine Boy had a submarine that he used to pursue the bad guys of the sea and also had special Oxygum (special Oxygen bubblegum to help him swim underwater).

UK / BBC1 / 30x20m-e / 1994  2 seasons

Writer: Roy Apps / Producer: Martin Hughes / Executive Producer: Christopher Pilkington 

Sitcom. Cases of quite possibly the worlds worst detective Marlene Marlowe plying her trade in Puddlethorpe-On-Sea.

With:- KATE COPSTICK as Marlene Marlowe / JO KENDALL as Aunt Maud

UK / Thames / 21x25m-e / 1982-84

Writer: Andrew Davies / Executive Producer: Pamela Lonsdale 

A trilogy of  comedy series about Marmalade Atkins, possibly the naughtiest girl in the entire world. The series were 1.Marmalade Atkins In Space (see below), 2.Educating Marmalade, 3.Danger - Marmalade at Work. 

With:- CHARLOTTE COLMAN as Marmalade Atkins

UK / Thames / 1x30m-e / 1981  2 November - Monday 4.45pm

Writer: Andrew Davies / Producer: Sue Birtwhistle / Director: Colin Bucksey 

Comedy. The pilot about the naughty schoolgirl that led to the two series Educating Marmalade and Danger - Marmalade at Work.

With:- CHARLOTTE COLMAN as Marmalade Atkins / JOHN BIRD as Mr Atkins  / LYNDA MARCHAL as Mrs Atkins / GILLIAN RAINE as Mrs Allgood 

UK / BBC1 / x5m-e / 1971

Animated series telling the adventures of a young girl, her dog (Mungo) and a mouse (Midge) living in a high rise tower block. Narrated by Richard Baker.

USA / Dark Horse-Romani-Sunbow-New Line / x30m-e / 1996-

Creative Consultants: Laura Armstrong, Nina I. Hahn / Music: Christopher Neal Nelson / Theme Sung by Rob Paulson

Animated fantasy comedy series. Mild mannered Stanley Ipkiss discovers a mask which once he puts on gives him amazing powers of self confidence.

Voices:- ROB PAULSON as Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask / TIM CURRY as Pretorius

UK / Thames / 4x15m-e / 1975  27 May - 17 June Tuesdays 12.15pm

Creator: Matthew Corbett / Producer/Director: Daphne Shadwell

Comedy. Sketch series starring Matthew Corbett and singer Gerry Marsden (minus his Pacemakers).

ITV / 4x25m-e / 1994

Writer: Andrew Norriss 

Comedy drama serial. Young Matthew Collins inherits a million pounds and has fun spending it.

With:- PETER ENGLAND as Matthew Collins / MADELAINE HOWARD as Mrs Collins / CLAIRE PARFITT as Claire Harding /JOHN ELMES as Mr Wattis

Nickelodeon / 13x20m-e / 2002

Animated adventure series. Based on the children's book series by Rosemary Wells, Max and Ruby revolves around the preschool-aged Max and his older brother Ruby.

UK / Thames 'Funny Ha Ha' / 1x30m-e / 1974  28 June - Friday 4.50pm

Writer: John Kane / Producer: Ruth Boswell / Director: Leon Thau 

Comedy. An alien visits Earth on a research mission.

JACK HAIG as Grandad / ROY BARRACLOUGH as Mr Tomlin / ALEC BREGONZI as Mr Trench / JOHN KANE as  Meep

UK / Scottish TV-Snail / 13x10m-e / 2000

Stories: Aileen Patterson / Music: The Singing Kettle / Producer: Robin Lyons / Director: Les Orton

Animation. The adventures of young Scottish kitten Maisie Mac. Narrated by Stanley Baxter

Canada / Cinegroup-Landmark-Sony / x20m-e / 1999

Executive Producers: Jacques Pettigrew, Michel Lemire, Loris Kramer, Gary Goddard

Animated fantasy comedy. Thanks to a freak of the new Millennium and the alignment of the planets a trio of babies are turned into superheroes.

UK / ITV/

Saturday morning entertainment that specialized in outside broadcasts. Presented by comedian Duggie Brown.  

UK / LWT /  39x30m-e / 1980-83 Four seasons
Writer: Colin Bostock-Smith / Music: Phil Coulter / Producer: Michael Dolenz 

Scifi sitcom. A big fat robot (with the catchphrase 'Boogie Boogie') lives with a suburban family.

With:- MICHAEL STAINTON as Father  / GEORGINA MELVILLE as Mother / IRENE HANDL as Granny / GARY SHAIL as Steve / ASHLEY KNIGHT as Ken

UK / BBC1/Polydor/ 26x25m-e /  1999-2000  Season One: April 8 - July 1 Thursdays 5.10pm

Creator: Kim Fuller / Costume: Marian Lester Card / Script Editors: Kim Fuller, Jenji Cohen / Producer: Martyn Day / Director: Andrew Margetson 

Comedy drama/music series. A young British boy/girl band, S Club 7, travel to Miami to play a season at the Paradise Hotel, but things don't go as anticipated.Season Two saw the band trying to make it in Los Angeles and was retitled LA7  Made specifically to promote the group created by the Spice Girls former manager Simon Fuller. See also S Club 7: Ultimate Access, S Club 7:Back to the Fifties and S Club 7:Boyfriends and Birthdays.

With:- TINA BARRETT /  JON LEE /  HANNAH SPEARITT /  PAUL CATTERMOLE / RACHEL STEVENS /  JO O'MEARA /  BRADLEY McINTOSH

UK / Thames / 52x25m-e 26x15m-e / 1973-80 7 seasons

Writer: Michael Bentine / Producer: Leon Thau, Terry Steel

Comedy puppet series. Adventures of the Pottys, a group of short, almost featureless characters. The programmes were mostly sketch based and the Pottys were first seen in Michael Bentine Time. (see below).

UK / BBC1 / 13x30m-e / 1972 15 September - 8 December Fridays 5.15pm

Writer: Michael Bentine / Producer: Johnny Downes

Comedy series. A mixture of sketches and exploits of puppets called The Pottys. These segments proved very popular and gained their own series called Michael Bentine's Potty Time (see above).

UK / BBC1 / 13x10m-e / 1990  3 January - 28 March Wednesdays 4.00pm

Writers: Andy Walker, Geoff Atkinson / Producer: Judy Whitfield / Director: Nigel Douglas

Comedy. Sketch based series about cartoonist Mick and his adventures with his friend Mac.

With:- MICHAEL BARRYMORE as Mick / DAVID JARVIS as Mac  

UK / A-R / 91x20m-e/15m-e /  1955-57 6 Seasons black and white

Writers: Charlie Drake, Jack Edwardes / Producer/Directors: Jonathan Alwyn, Daphne Shadwell 

Sitcom. The misadventures of two workmen, episode one was called Mick and Montmorency, then episodes 2 through to 34 the title changed to Jobstoppers then from 35 onwards reverted back to Mick and Montmorency.

With:- CHARLIE DRAKE as Mick / JACK EDWARDES as  Montmorency

USA / Disney-NBC / 1x60m-e / 1988

Celebration. A special birthday tribute to Mickey Mouse with many famous stars appearing.

UK / BBC1-Splash / x10m-e / 1997

Writer/Director: Tony Garth / Executive Producer: Lucy Ellson, Russell Dever

Animated series narrated by Brian Wilde.

UK / BBC1 / 26x25m-e / 1997-99

Creator: Mark Haddon 

Sitcom. Initially the plotline concerned the problems of a brother and sister whose parents have separated, by season two both parents had new married partners and the show concentrated on family life in general. The majority of the stories though focused on Joe, often including his friend Toby and Joe's sister Emily. There were quite a few funny fantasy moments within each episode, the actor Richard Dixon appears in most shows as someone different each time. 

With:- PAUL TERRY as Joe / REBECCA HUNTER as  Emily / JEFF RAWLE as Colin / SUZANNE BURDEN as Jane / IVAN KAYE as Roger / LOU GISH as Jennifer / STEVEN GELLER as Toby / SCOTT HICKMAN as Jim / SARAH MOGG as Pogo / ALBEY BROOKES as Robbie / LUCY EVANS as Felicity / RYAN CARTWRIGHT as David

USA / CBS-Terrytoons / x20m-e / 1966

Animated scifi slapstick featuring the exploits of characters like Diaper Man, Rope Man, Tornado Man, Strong Man,  
and Cuckoo Man none of whom appeared to be that bright. 

USA-Japan / Fox-Saban / x25m-e / 1993-96

Creators/Producers: Haim Saban, Shuki Levy

Scifi drama series. A gang of Californian teens have alter egos that sees them able to 'morph' into Power Rangers, superheroes mostly involved in fighting the evil Rita Repulsa. A merchandising extravaganza the series superhero exploits were taken from a Japanese show called Zyu Rangers (possible because the Rangers wore masks).