With a reboot of Fraggle Rock premiering on Apple TV+ today (January 21), we got to thinking about some of our favorite British kids' shows from back in the day. Here are 10 of the absolute best, from the educational to the whimsical, and the sweet to the surreal.
1. Blue Peter (1958-)
This CBBC magazine show is the longest-running children's program in the world. Blue Peter adapts with the times, but the core formula is an entertaining and informative blend of celebrity interviews, arts and crafts features, presenter challenges, competitions, and issues relevant to younger viewers. One of the show's most beloved former presenters, Konnie Huq, is now an author and screenwriter married to Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker.2. The Magic Roundabout (1965-1977)
This charmingly whimsical series was based on the French show Le Manège enchanté – in fact, it used the same stop motion animation footage, but with completely different scripts and characters. The U.K. take featuring Dougal the dog, Brian the snail, and Zebedee the talking jack-in-a-box was created, written, and narrated by Eric Thompson, father of future Oscar winner Emma Thompson. 3. Rainbow (1972-1992)
Originally conceived as a British riff on Sesame Street, this endearingly surreal ITV series has attained cult status. Each episode followed three talking puppets – Bungle the bear, George the hippo, and Zippy, whose identity is ambiguous – as they carried out a task with the help from human friend Geoffrey. As Pink News reports, one London pastor was convinced the show was a piece of clever LGBTQ propaganda – this seems rather unlikely, though Rainbow did share its title with an iconic symbol of queer liberation.4. Bagpuss (1974)
Though only 13 episodes were ever made, this BBC series has become an enduring classic. As the intro explains, the title character is "a saggy, old cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams," who only comes to life after his owner Emily leaves the shop where he lives. Radiohead's Thom Yorke is such a fan that he asked Bagpuss creator Oliver Postgate to make a music video for the band in 2003. However, as 50 Odd reports, Postgate, who had retired by this point, politely declined.5. Grange Hill (1978-2008)
Set in a fictional north London comprehensive (high) school, this CBBC drama series established a reputation for tackling tough topical issues such as racism, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, sexual assault, and knife crime. It was also a breeding ground for new talent. Anthony Minghella, who served as a script editor in the 1980s, went on to win an Oscar for directing The English Patient. 6. Postman Pat (1981-1996; 2003-2017)
This sweet series followed the daily routine of a country postman, Patrick "Pat" Clifton, and his famous black and white cat, Jess. Anyone who grew up watching it will instantly recall its catchy theme tune and comforting stop motion animation. It's such a British institution that The Good Wife's Archie Panjabi took on a voice role in more recent seasons.7. Thomas & Friends (1984-2021)
This iconic series, a hit on ITV and PBS, follows the adventures of a talking tank engine called Thomas, who lives on the fictional Island of Sodor. Thomas is well-meaning and eager-to-please, but tends to get into trouble by taking on jobs he's not quite ready for. Early episodes were narrated by Beatles legend Sir Ringo Starr, and the franchise was just rebooted last year as the Cartoon Network series Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.8. ChuckleVision (1987-2009)
This long-running CBBC series followed the hapless shenanigans of the Chuckle Brothers (real-life brothers Barry and Paul Elliott) as they were asked to perform some kind of task... then invariably messed it up in hilarious fashion. The duo's back-and-forth catchphrase – "To me, to you!" – became genuinely iconic. When Barry Chuckle/Elliott passed away in 2018, it was a sad day for several generations of Brits who grew up on this show.9. Teletubbies (1997-2001, 2015-)
The Teletubbies – Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa, and Po, four colorful creatures whose infectious nonsense-speak was designed to appeal to toddlers – became a global phenomenon in the late '90s. A spin-off single, "Teletubbies say Eh-oh!", even reached number one in the U.K. charts! Since 2015, a revival series that airs on Nick Jr. in the U.S. and CBeebies in the U.K. has been entertaining a whole new generation of pre-schoolers. 10. Peppa Pig (2004-)
This talking piglet (plus her family and friends) have become such a global phenomenon that Adele was recently asked if she wanted to collaborate with her – yes, really. The good news for fans of all ages is that the series has been renewed until 2027, so Peppa has plenty more adventures in the pipeline.Have we missed one of your favorite British kids' shows?!