When I was but a lad the worst part about returning home from a visit to England was knowing that I wouldn't be able to watch Blue Peter once we got back to the States. Never mind the museums, the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace, my favorite thing about a trip to the UK was the telly. If only the WWW had been around back then I would have been able to keep up with the Blue Peter gang through the BBC's fun and fact-filled site.
Blue Peter, with its great presenters, both human and canine, and its emphasis on community involvement and fun activities, was unlike anything on in the USA and it has yet to be equaled anywhere. The official BBC Blue Peter site provides comprehensive information on all the great Blue Peter competitions and appeals, and is stuffed to the gills with facts and crafts and all sorts of neat things for today's kids and us adults who remember it so fondly. The BBC also has a web site dedicated to their entire children's division that is always worth a visit.
Some other classic kid's shows I remember include ridiculously silly TISWAS, with the Phantom Flan Flinger, the slightly less silly and Noel Edmund's, celebrity studded Muti-Coloured Swap Shop and Jackinory, a story telling program that I always pretended I was too grown up for but always made sure I was there when my younger siblings watched it.I've been able, through my own daughter, to re-discover a whole world of children's programming that I'd not gotten a chance to see. A number of these programs have huge fan followings and popular web sites. Here are a few of the best on the Web:
Mr. Benn: Not to be confused with Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean, Mr. Benn is a charming cartoon series form the early '70s featuring the bowler-hatted Mr. Benn and a magical costume shop. Its fan site can be found at As if by Magic.
Two sites can be found dedicated to Oliver Postgate's marvelous series Clangers.
Bagpuss fans can celebrate their favorite soggy old cloth cat at Nigel Baker's Bagpuss fan site. Baker also runs a site dedicated to Bagpuss's production company Smallfilms.
A trio of classic Gordon Murray shows are showcased at the Trumptonshire Web where you'll find information on Trumpton, Chigley and Camberwick Green.
A great site covering the the best youth programs of the '70s and '80s is Paul Walker's Classic 70's and 80's UK Kids TV.
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