.png)
As holidays get closer and we might have a bit more free time, I have been very keen on browsing old Christmas TV shows and TV shows for babies and toddlers in general from the time YOU where a baby. But when was that?
I have been visited by babies from the 50s and also from the 2000s, so I am putting together a few shows that will take you back in time depending on what generation you are, and it takes 2 posts so that each one is not too long. Even if these episodes are not from your generation, they are worth a look.
Let's get started!
1960s:
Blue Peter (1960-2011): Blue Peter is a timeless treasure! It's not just for Christmas, but it's been around for ages and always had special festive fun in Christmas.
And browsing Blue Peter episodes, I found this crazy episode where one hundred Girl Guides gather around a campfire for a singalong. The only trouble is that the campfire is indoors, in the Blue Peter studio... If you're happy and you know it, just keep singing.
Andy Pandy (1950-1970): Premiered on BBC TV in 1950 as par as For the Children, later to be called Watch with Mother. Originally was done life, but soon they started to record the episodes so they could be streamed.
Andy is a marionette who lives in a picnic basket and was later joined by Teddy and Looby Loo, a rag doll who would come to life when Andy and Teddy were not around. This episode is not a Christmas one.
I couldn't find a Christmas episode of Andy Pandy, but during my research I found this video of Christmas in the 60s that is worth a look. A real step back in the time of 60s seasonal decorations.
Trumpton (1967-1968): Trumptonshire at Christmas! This stop-motion series gave us a beautiful Christmas special in 1967. It's like a wintery wonderland coming to life right before our eyes.
"Trumpton" is a children's TV series set in the fictional English town of Trumpton. Each episode begins with the iconic Trumpton Town Hall clock, marking the sensible passage of time. The show features various townsfolk like the Mayor, Chippy Minton, Mrs Cobbit, and others, resolving domestic issues in a cheerful manner by the end. The fire brigade, led by Captain Flack, is a notable element, with a memorable roll-call: "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb." The fire brigade concludes episodes by transforming into the town band.
1970s:
Bagpuss (1974): Bagpuss himself is a stuffed cloth cat, referred to in the intro as "The Most Important, The Most Beautiful, The Most Magical Saggy, Old Cloth Cat in the Whole, Wide World".
The six mice carved on the side of the "mouse organ" (a small mechanical pipe organ that played rolls of music) wake up and scurry around, singing in high-pitched voices. The names of the six mice are: Charlie Mouse, Jenny Mouse, Janey Mouse, Lizzy Mouse, Eddie Mouse and Willy Mouse, although only three of the mice are ever referred to by their name; the remaining three are named only in the books which accompany the series.
Rainbow (1972-1992): Rainbow was a favorite in the 70s, and their festive episodes with Zippy, George, and Bungle were like a burst of holiday cheer on our screens. British equivalent of American educational puppet series Sesame Street. Each episode of Rainbow revolved around a particular activity or situation that arose in the Rainbow House, where the main characters lived. The story was interspersed with songs.
The Wombles (1973-1975): The Wombles , those are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures. They live in burrows, where they aim to help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in creative ways. Although Wombles supposedly live in every country in the world, Beresford's stories are primarily concerned with the lives of the inhabitants of the burrow on Wimbledon Common in London, England. had a merry Christmas episode called "A Wombling Merry Christmas" in 1974. The song reached an impressive N02 in the UK Charts in 1974.
I think they have the best music, like the music of their intro
I hope you enjoed these at least half as much of the ammount of enjoyment I had putting them together.
You can comment under this post should you want to.
Part 2 coming soon, stay tuned!
