Memorable TV

UK / BBC1 / 31x15m-e / 1991-93  3 Seasons - Mondays 3.55pm

Writer: Wayne Jackman / Producer: Christine Hewitt / Director: David Coyle 

Sitcom.  Australian Kangeroo Clive inherits a radio station in England called Radio Roo.

With:- WAYNE JACKMAN as Dennis / IAN TREGONNING as Clive the Kangeroo  / CAROLINE O'CONNOR as Margaret 

UK / BBC (Watch with Mother) / 24x10m-e / 1953-55 black and white

Writer: Louise Cochrane / Producer: Freda Lingstrom, David Boisseau

The adventures of a hedgehog, a mouse and a rabbit. This was the Thursday edition of Watch with Mother. Narrated by Charles E. Stidwell, David Enders and James Urquhart.   

UK / BBC1 / 7x25m-e / 1968 12 May - 23 June black and white

Writer: Denis Constanduros / Novel: E. Nesbit / Director: Julia Smith  

Period drama serial.  In Edwardian times three children, living in Yorkshire with their mother whilst their father is in prison on a trumped up spy charge, get involved in helping the local railway line. In 1951 there was a previous 8x30m-e version by the BBC and again in 1957 there was another serial version. See also The Railway Children ( a  version shown prime time Easter 2000).

With:- JENNY AGUTTER as Bobbie / GILLIAN BAILEY as Phyllis / NEIL McDERMOTT as Peter / GORDON GOSTELOW as Perks 

UK / Thames-HTV-Tetra / 1000+x20m-e / 1971-92/93-96 (First Episode: Monday October 16th 1972 @ 12.05pm) 

Creator: Pamela Lonsdale (who also produced almost all the shows), other producers included Ruth Boswell, Vic Hughes, Charles Warren, Lesley Burgess and Shelia Kinany/ Opening titles: Cosgrove Hall / Theme Music: Telltale / Young Education Advisor: Jill Kent 

Preschool education and entertainment show. When the ITV Network decided to open up their afternoon schedule (at that time, the early seventies, ITV closed down for the afternoon after children's school programmes finished at noon but new government regulations gave them more air time) for our viewing pleasure one of the children's shows that kicked things off was Rainbow. Initially John Kane and Tim Wylton presented a pilot edition that never aired but the series proper was first hosted by David Cook and most of the familiar elements were in place, Bungle the Bear (played by John "K-9" Leeson) and the mischievous puppet Zippy. Interestingly the titles and some interstitial animation (Curly and Straight was adventures of a pair of lines, simple but effective) was provided by the legendary Mark Hall and Brian Cosgrove, they would also go on to create three stop frame animation series to appear within Rainbow, these were Sally and Jake, Grandma Bricks of Swallow Street and Rosie and Jim of Cockleshell Bell (these are all treated individually in the guide). By the shows second season (which started Monday 16th April 1973) Bungle had been given a make over and Zippy's friend George arrived( 26 April Episode), Roy Skelton (who also provided voices for the Daleks in Dr Who) now voiced the puppets, season three (which started 22nd October 1973) introduced a new host who would remain with the show until the end, Geoffrey Hayes and Bungle had a new actor playing him in the shape of Stanley Bates, a musical trio was now also introduced (made up of Julian Littman, Karl Johnson and Charmian Dore later on the trio would be replaced by the legendary Rod, Jane and Freddy who stayed with the show until the end, initally Rod Burton and Jane Tucker were aided by a young Matthew Corbett).
Around this time each episode would also feature a story read by a well known actor (including the likes of Judi Dench, Rosemary Leach, Gwen Watford, Beryl Reid, Roy Kinnear, Una Stubbs, Molly Sugden, Julian Glover and many more). When Thames lost their franchise in 1992 the show came to a close but it did return in 1993 briefly (without Geoffrey and with a new puppet rabbit called Cleo) in an afternoon slot. Then from 1996-97 the series returned as Rainbow Days and was hosted by Dale Superville. 

USA/ PBS-Atlantis Films-Lancit Media-Revcom / 20x30m-e / 1988-89

Creator: Beverly Cleary / Writer: Ellis Weiner / Producer: Kim Todd / Director: Randy Bradshaw

Sitcom. Key moments in the life of 8 year old Ramona Quimby.

With:- SARAH POLLEY as Ramona Quimby / LORI CHANDOS as Beatrice 'Beezus' Quimby / LYNDA MASON GREEN as Dory Quimby / BARRY FLATMAN as Bob Quimby

UK / ITV / 1980's

Variety style early afternoon series, mainly notable for starring a young Lisa Stansfield.

Canada / Telefilm Canada-Insight-Disney-Paragon Ltd / x20m-e / 1996-

Creator: Alyse Rosenberg / Executive Producer: John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby

Teen drama series. Stories of two teenage friends Amanda and Busy.

With:- LAURA BERTRAM as Amanda / LANI BILLARD as Busy / GERRY MENDICINO as Sam Ramone / DIANE REIS as Lucy Ramone / KARL PRUNER as Stephen

USA / x30m-e / 1996

Action adventure series. A revival of Jonny Quest. A mixture of computer generated and normal animation. Adventurer Jonny Quest and his father have various adventures in Quest World.

Voices:- GEORGE SEGAL as Dr benton Quest / ROBERT PATRICK as Race Bannon / J.D. ROTH as Jonny Quest / FRANK WELKER as Bandit/Jeremiah Surd / JESSIE DOUGLAS as Jessie Bannon / MICHAEL BENYER as Hadji

Spain / Spanish TV-F.A.P-TVE-Ocean Group / x20m-e / 1994

Creator: Juan Ramon Pina / Music: Shaila

Animation. An archaeology expert has adventures at various sites across the world.

UK / BBC / x20m-e / 199? - continuing

Producers: David Wallace, Nigel Pope / Executive Producers: Eric Rowan, Phil Fairclough

Wildlife. An introduction to all kinds of animals (both domestic and from all corners of the world). Presenters have included Michaela Strachan, Howie Watkins, Janice Acquash, Nick Baker

USA-UK / BLT-Alliance-Meridian-Polygram-Mainframe / 39x30m-e / 1994-97

Creators: John Grace, Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell / Executive Producer: Steve Barron

Animated scifi. Inside the computer world of mainframe young boy Bob (who has accidentally landed inside Mainframe) finds himself trying to avoid the dreaded computer games. TV's first 100% computer generated animation. Two feature length editions are in production for late 2000.

UK / BBC1 / 500+x25m-e / 1972-continuing

Long running entertainment based on the Guinness Book of Records. Roy Castle hosted for many years along with the McWhirter brothers (both heavily involved in the Guinness book of records). Later hosts included Cheryl Baker and Kris Akabussi. The series is currently hosted by Linford Christie and is known as Linford Christie's Record Breakers. The title music was 'Dedication'.

USA / Nickelodeon-Spimco-Carbunkle / x25m-e / 1991-

Creator: John Kricfalusi / Executive Producer: Vanessa Coffey / Producers: John Kricfalusi, Bob Camp, Jim Smith, Jim Ballentine, Frank Sapperstein

Animated comedy. The madcap and often gross exploits of Chihuahua Ren and Stimpy the Cat.

Voices:- JOHN KRICFALUSI as Ren Hoek (1) / BOB CAMP as Ren (2) / BILLY WEST as Stimpson J. 'Stimpy' Cat

UK / Nickelodean/ Helion / 26x30m-e / 1998-99

Creators: Steve Bawol, Patrick Buckley, Chris Wilson / Script Supervisor: Lucy Enfield / Football Coach: Steve Leacock / Football team: Chelsea Community Boys and Girls / Producer: Antonella Ibba-Hartog / Executive Producer: Steven Bawol

Sitcom. A group of kids playing five a side football for the Renford Rovers are so bad they've garnered the nick name The Renford Rejects.

With:- HOLLY DAVIDSON as Robin / PAUL PARRIS as Barry / ROGER DAVIES as Vinnie / ADAM DEAN as Ronnie / MARTIN DELANEY as Jason / CHARLIE ROLLAND as Ben / ALEX NORTON as Eddie McAvoy 

UK / BBC1 / 57x25m-e 1x40m-e / 1976-84 9 seasons + 1 special

Creator: Bob Block / Theme Music: Michael Staniforth / Special Effects: Bill King / Producer: Jeremy Swan 

Fantasy sitcom. A bunch of ghosts hire themselves out, usually with disastrous consequences.

With:- MICHAEL STANIFORTH as Timothy Claypole / ANTHONY JACKSON as Fred Mumford / MICHAEL DARBYSHIRE as Hubert Davenport / EDWARD BRAYSHAW as Mr Meaker / ANN EMERY as Ethel Meaker / JOHN DAWSON as Mr Mumford / MOLLY WEIR as Hazel MacWitch / SUE NICHOLLS as Nadia Popov / CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS as Adam Painting

UK / ITV / 12x25m-e / 1996-98

Writer: Tom Needham / Producer: Amanda Silvester 

Thriller drama series.  Three kids get involved in a mystery when their father goes mysteriously missing.

With:- MICHAEL JOWETT as Harry Fisher / KIM BREARLEY as Zillah Fisher / ADAM SCOURFIELD as Joe Fisher / MICHAEL TROUGHTON as Dirk French / EMILY BANTING as Jules / MATTHEW NOBLE as Lee 

UK / Granada / 26x25m-e / 1986-87

Writer: Willis Hall / Producer: Eugene Ferguson 

Period fantasy comedy drama series. Three inches high Lilliputians find themselves stranded in Britain in Victorian times.

With:- GAIL HARRISON / JOHN QUENTIN / JOHN BRANWELL / CLAUDIA GAMBOLD / DEREK FARR / STEPHANIE COLE

UK / BBC1 /  6x25m-e / 1992

Writer: Helen Cresswell / Novel: E. Nesbit / Producer: Richard Calleren 

Period fantasy drama serial. A sequel to Five Children and It with five Victorian children having adventures with a wish granting psammead.

With:- TOBY UFINDELL-PHILLIPS as George / LAURA CLARKE as Ellie/Harriet  / LEONARD KIRBY as Pip  / VICCI AVERY as Lucy  / FRANCIS WRIGHT as The Psammead / CAROL MACREADY as Cook

Australia / ABC-NHK / x25m-e / 1996

Writer: David Olgilvy / Music: Peter Dasent / Executive Producer: Kagari Tajima, Ron Saunders / Producer: Terry Jennings

Scifi drama series. A group of kids and their adult commander make a hazardous journey to Jupiter in their ship The Icarus. A sequel to Escape From Jupiter.

With:- SONIA TODD as Cmdr Dent / DAVID WENHAM as Ghrobak / JEANETTE CRONIN as Glovic / COLIN MOODY as Selby / ANNA CHOY as Kumiko / JUSTIN ROSNIAK as Gerard / DANIEL TAYLOR as Michael / DOMINIC ELMALOGLOU as Abraham / ROBYN MACKENZIE as Anna / EMMA JANE FOWLER as Zac  

USA / TCF-DePatie Freleng / 13x20m-e / 1975

Music: Dean Elliott / Producers: David De Patie, Fritz Freleng  / Director: Doug Wildey

Animated scifi. A trio of astronauts, Jeff Carter, Judy Franklin and Bill Hudson are sent through a time warp that sees them land on an Earth ruled by Apes. See also the live action series Planet of the Apes. 

UK / BBC1-British Pathe / 100x5m-e / 1999

Producer: Eric Rowan

A clever project in which 100 children gave voice to the memories of 100 people (one from each year of the century) The short segments were shown twice a week (Tuesday/Thursdays) throughout 1999 and at the close of children's BBC.

UK / BBC1 / 19x25m-e 5x15m-e / 1972-76 Four seasons

Producers: Nick Hunter (season 1), Tony Harrison (seasons 2-4)

UK / Thames / 14x30m-e / 1973-74

Writer: Bob Block / Producer/Director: Vic Hughes 

Scifi sitcom.  On behalf of the government, Robert Sommerby spends his time trying to build human like robots. 

With:- JOHN CLIVE as Robert Sommerby / NIGEL PEGRAM as Eric / BRIAN COBURN as KT / LEON LISSEK as Marken / DORIS ROGERS as Auntie Millie / RICHARD DAVIES as Gimble (Season 1) / JENNY HANLEY as Angie (Season1) / DAVID PUGH as Plummer (Season 2) 

France / x25m-e / 1985

Animated scifi. Warring robot races fight for control of the Green Planet. The two races were the  Robors and the Rotors.

USA / NIckelodeon-Klasky Csupo / x20m-e / 1999

Creators: Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo

Animated adventures of the extreme sports mad Rocket Power gang, leader Otto, Twister (Otto's best friend), Otto's sister Reggie and techno geek Sam.

Canada / Trillim Prod / 52x20m-e / 1967

Animated scifi. Adventures of Robin Hood on the asteroid New Sherwood Forest in the year 2000.

USA / ABC-NBC-Jay Ward Prod-Producers Associates of Television / 183x30m-e / 1959-64

Creator: Jay Ward / Producers: Jay Ward, Bill Scott/ Music: Fred Steiner, George Steiner, Frank Comstock, Dennis Farnon

Comedy. A number of different cartoon segments the main being the lead Rocky and Bullwinkle, a squirrel Rocky and a Moose, Bullwinkle who were involved in tangling with evil spy Boris Badenov. Other segments included the dense mountie Dudley Do-Right, Aesop and Son, Mr Know it All, Fractured Fairytales and Peabody's Improbable History.

Voices:- WILLIAM CONRAD as Narrator / JUNE FORAY as Rocky/Natasha Fatale / BILL SCOTT as Bullwinkle/Dudley / PAUL FREES as Boris Badenov / CHARLES RUGGLES as Aesop / DAWS BUTLER as Aesop Jr / EDWARD EVERETT HORTON as Fractured Fairytales Narrator

UK / ITV-Cosgrove Hall / 26x10m-e / 1998

Animated comedy series. The adventures of a bunch of Dodo's, Rocky, Elvis, Bill, Wonda, Astra and Tantra on a remote island.  

UK / BBC1 / 6x25m-e / 1975

Producer: Anna Home / Director: John Prowse 

Drama serial. A young Liverpool slum lad gets involved with villains.

With:- MICK MILLS / JAMES HOEY / KENNY WALKER / ROBERT KEEGAN

UK-France / BBC-TDF-Eva / x10m-e / 1996

Creators: Robin Lyons, Andrew Offiler / Producer: Robin Lyons / Music: Roger Planer / Executive Producers: Patrick Moine, Mikael Shields, Steve Walsh

Animated adventures of a young Reindeer and his friends and family.

Voices:- NIGEL PLANER / EMMA WRAY / KENNETH WALLER / MOLLIE SUGDEN / CHRISTIAN RODSKA / HOWELL EVANS

UK / BBC / 30x5m-e / 1974

Creator: Grange Caveley / Music: Johnny Hawksworth / Producer/Director: Bob Godfrey

Manic animation featuring warring neighbours, Green Dog Roobarb and Pink Cat Custard. Narrated by Richard Briers.

USA / BKN / x30m-e / 1999

Creator: Kaaran Lee Brown / Music: Allen Bohbot / Executive Producers: Allen Bohbot, Joe Pearson, Rick Unger

Animated scifi detailing the exploits of a government team trying to stave off alien attacks.

Voices:- L. HARVEY GOLD / MARCY GOLDBERG / SAFFRON HENDERSON / PETER KELAMIS / SCOTT McNEIL / ALEX ZAHARA

UK-Canada / BBC-Italtoons UK-Tooncam / x10m-e / 1999

Executive Producers: Guiliana Nicodemi, Paul Cadieux, Theresa Plummer-Stevens

Animated puppet adventures with Ralph the Cat who belonged to young Sarah.   

UK/ ITV / x15m-e / 1996-98

Writer: Tim Firth 

Fantasy comedy puppet series. A young boy finds himself crowned King of the Rottentrolls. Characters included Yockenthwaite the berk, Commander Harris the Sheep, Kettlewell the Cook.

With:- HOLLY GRAINGER as Princess Kate / MARTIN CLUNES as Narrator 

USA / Columbia-Foundation Imaging-Adelaide-BKN / x30m-e / 1999

Executive Producers: Jeff Kline, Richard Raynis / Theme Music: Jim Latham / Devisors: Richard Raynis, Duane Capizai, Jeff Kline

Computer generated scifi, spin off from the film Starship Troopers featuring the exploits of a group of alien bug killing young soldiers.

Voices:- RINO ROMANO as Johnny Rico / EG DAILY as Dizzy Flores / RYDER STRONG as Carl Jenkins / ALEX POLINSKY as Higgins / TISH HICKS as Carmen Ibanez / JAMIE HANES as Lt Razak / NICHOLAS GUEST as Zander Barcalow / DAVID DE LUISE as Sgt Bruto / BILL FAGERBAKKE as Gossard

Australia / 7 Network-ABC-Australian Children's Television Foundation / 52x30m-e / 1990/93/98/2000

Creator: Paul Jennings / Producers: Antonia Barnard, Patricia Edgar

Fantasy sitcom. The Twist children live with their father in a lighthouse on the Victoria coast and find strangeness and fantastic things happening to them on a regular basis. The first series of 13 was followed by a second almost 3 years later, this featured a largely different cast, then five years later the series re-emerged for a further two seasons. 

1990 (7 Network) Cast:- TAMSIN WEST as Linda Twist / SAM VANDERBURGH as Pete Twist / RODNEY McLENNAN as Bronson Twist / JUDITH McGRATH as Matron Gribble / FRANKIE J. HOLDEN as Mr Gribble

1993 (ABC) Cast:- JOELENE CRNOGNORAC as inda Twist / BEN THOMAS as Pete Twist / JEFFREY WALKER as Bronson Twist / ROBYN GIBBES as Miss James / MARK MITCHELL as Mr Gribble

APPEARED IN BOTH THE ABOVE:- RICHARD MOIR as Mr Twist / BUNNY BROOKE as Nell / ESBEN STORM as Mr Snapper

1998 Cast:- EBONNIE MASINI / RAIN McLEAN / MATTHEW WATERS / ANDREW S. GILBERT / MARION HEATHFIELD / TRUDY HELLIER / KATIE BARNES

USA / Videocraft / 1x50m-e / 1964

Writer: Romeo Muller / Producers: Arthur Rankin Jr, Jules Bass / Director: Larry Roemer

Puppet fantasy. The story of how Rudolph rose to become Santa's principle reindeer. Narrated by Burl Ives the show was for many years an annual event (in much the same way as the UK's Snowman).

USA / Hanna-Barbera / 156x25m-e / 1957-59

Animated comedy. Misadventures of a pair of crime fighters - Ruff the Cat and Reddy the Dog.

USA / Nickelodeon-Klasky Csupo / x30m-e / 1995-continuing

Creators: Gabor Csupo, Arlene Klasky

Animated sitcom. Stories of four children all of whom are pre school as they play together and make up stories. The characters include Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, twins Phil and Lil Delville, Tommy's cousin Angelica and his parents Didi and Stu Pickles. A spin off emerged in 2002 called Angelica and Susie's School Daze.

Voices:- E.G. DAILY as Tommy / CHERYL CHASE as Angelica / KATHY SOUCI as Phil/Lil / CHRISTINE CAVANAGH as Chuckie / DAVID DOYLE as Grandpa

UK / A-R / 13x55m-e / 1955 28 September - 21 December Wednesdays 5.00pm

Writer: Peter Ling

Comedy. Sketch and slapstick fun for young viewers starring Keith Smith and Allen Maxwell. Also appearing were Clive Dunn and Dennis Clinton.

USA / NBC-TCF-D'Angelo / 26x25m-e / 1974

Producer: William P. D'Angelo

Adventure series. A German Shepherd dog, after being wrongly being accused of a brutal attack on his master, is forced to go on the run.

With:- ARCH WHITING / CHAD STATES

USA / NBC-Steve Slavkin Prod-NBC Prod / 13x30m-e / 1993 11 September - 4 December

Creator/Executive Producer: Steve Slavkin / Producer: Greg Gorden

Sitcom. The exploits of a group of students at New England Boarding School, Middlefield Academy.

With:- LACKEY BEVIS as Molloy Simpson / LAURIE FORTIER as Holiday / RICHARD HAYES as Andy McBain / CRAIG KIRKWOOD as Taylor / TREVOR LISSAUER as Reese / SENTA MOSES as Nikki / RICHARD SPEIGHT JR as Shark / PAMELA BROWN as Miss Gilman