Children's ITV schedules

[Arran]

Children’s ITV was launched on Monday 3 January 1983 at an unusually late start time, due to the film Zulu which proceeded it, and their first programme was the cartoon Dangermouse. On subsequent days, Children’s ITV was broadcast between 4PM and 5:15PM and contained four or five programmes. The first programme was a repeat of the ITV preschool programme broadcast at midday that day.

Monday 3 January 1983
16:50 Dangermouse
16:55 Educating Marmalade

Tuesday 4 January 1983
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 Stig of the Dump
16:35 Five Magic Minutes
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 5 January 1983
16:00 Pullover
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 The Sooty Show
16:30 Five Magic Minutes
16:40 The Book Tower

Thursday 6 January 1983
16:00 Teetime and Claudia
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 Madabout
16:45 The Coral Island

Friday 7 January 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Dangermouse
16:25 The Animal Express
16:45 Freetime

Monday 10 January 1983
16:00 Alphabet Zoo
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 Spiderwoman
16:45 This is Me

Tuesday 11 January 1983
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 Stig of the Dump
16:35 Five Magic Minutes
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 12 January 1983
16:00 Pullover
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 The Sooty Show
16:30 Five Magic Minutes
16:40 The Book Tower

Thursday 13 January 1983
16:00 Teetime and Claudia
16:15 Dangermouse
16:20 Madabout
16:45 The Coral Island

Friday 14 January 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Dangermouse
16:25 The Animal Express
16:45 Freetime

[George 1978]

Matthew Kelly did the continuity for January 1983 - someone I still associated with mainstream TV and not children's TV.

Apart from Friday, the 4.00 pm repeat was the same as midday. Interesting that Madabout which Matthew Kelly presented, was on Thursdays. Was this the first instance of a Children's ITV continuity announcer announcing and linking into their own programme? I have to admit that I don't really remember the same shows appearing on days or months when the same person did the continuity.

[Arran]

Now for the He-Man week…

Monday 5 September 1983
16:00 We’ll Tell You a Story
16:15 Doris
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 A Musical World

Tuesday 6 September 1983
16:00 Moschops
16:15 Doris
16:20 Hold Tight!
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 7 September 1983
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Doris
16:20 Emu’s World
16:45 What’s Happening

Thursday 8 September 1983
16:00 Heggerty Haggerty
16:15 Doris
16:20 On Safari
16:45 Home

Friday 9 September 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Doris
16:25 The Animal Express
16:50 Freetime Special

The timing of the first episode of He-Man and Masters of the Universe was judiciously chosen because it was back to back with Play School, along with the first 5 minutes of Arthur the Kid, on BBC1, so it faced almost no competition.

On Friday 9 September there was a CLOSEDOWN on BBC1 between 16:00 and 16:18, followed by the regional news, whilst Rainbow was on ITV. Children’s programmes on BBC started at 16:20 with Play School because it was (the last day of) the summer TV season.

Monday 12 September 1983
16:00 We’ll Tell You a Story
16:15 Doris
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Dramarama: Mighty Mum and the Petnappers

Tuesday 13 September 1983
16:00 Moschops
16:15 Doris
16:20 Hold Tight!
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 14 September 1983
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Doris
16:20 Emu’s World
16:45 The All Electric Amusement Arcade

Thursday 15 September 1983
16:00 Heggerty Haggerty
16:15 Doris
16:20 On Safari
16:45 Home

Friday 16 September 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Doris
16:25 The Animal Express
16:50 Freetime Special

The second episode of He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with The Adventures of Tin Tin, Puzzle Trail, along with the first 5 minutes of Play Away.

[George 1978]

I always think of Emu's World as being on a Friday - apart from EMU-TV in 1989 which I believe was on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.

[Arran]

I'm not familiar with many of these programmes because they were before my time. It's possible that they changed days in the future.

[HG]

Now for the He-Man week…

Monday 5 September 1983
16:00 We’ll Tell You a Story
16:15 Doris
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 A Musical World

Tuesday 6 September 1983
16:00 Moschops
16:15 Doris
16:20 Hold Tight!
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 7 September 1983
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Doris
16:20 Emu’s World
16:45 What’s Happening

Thursday 8 September 1983
16:00 Heggerty Haggerty
16:15 Doris
16:20 On Safari
16:45 Home

Friday 9 September 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Doris
16:25 The Animal Express
16:50 Freetime Special

The timing of the first episode of He-Man and Masters of the Universe was judiciously chosen because it was back to back with Play School, along with the first 5 minutes of Arthur the Kid, on BBC1, so it faced almost no competition.

On Friday 9 September there was a CLOSEDOWN on BBC1 between 16:00 and 16:18, followed by the regional news, whilst Rainbow was on ITV. Children’s programmes on BBC started at 16:20 with Play School because it was (the last day of) the summer TV season.

Monday 12 September 1983
16:00 We’ll Tell You a Story
16:15 Doris
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Dramarama: Mighty Mum and the Petnappers

Tuesday 13 September 1983
16:00 Moschops
16:15 Doris
16:20 Hold Tight!
16:45 CB TV Channel 14

Wednesday 14 September 1983
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Doris
16:20 Emu’s World
16:45 The All Electric Amusement Arcade

Thursday 15 September 1983
16:00 Heggerty Haggerty
16:15 Doris
16:20 On Safari
16:45 Home

Friday 16 September 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Doris
16:25 The Animal Express
16:50 Freetime Special

The second episode of He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with The Adventures of Tin Tin, Puzzle Trail, along with the first 5 minutes of Play Away.

I remember watching quite a few of them, I used to like Home and can still almost remember the theme song.

[Arran]

The last episode of Animals in Action, by Anglia Television. It was first broadcast on 26 September 1980 in the era of regional ITV idents in the weekday afternoon children’s programme timeslot; passed through Watch It!; then ended as a Children's ITV programme.

Monday 27 June 1983
16:00 Alphabet Zoo
16:15 Tweety Pie
16:20 The New Fantastic Four
16:45 Dramarama – Theatre Box

Tuesday 28 June 1983
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Tweety Pie
16:20 Razzmatazz
16:45 CB TV – Channel 14

Wednesday 29 June 1983
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Tweety Pie
16:20 Film Fun – The Movie
16:45 What’s Happening

Thursday 30 June 1983
16:00 Gammon and Spinach
16:15 Tweety Pie
16:20 First Post
16:30 Rowan’s Report
16:45 Home

Friday 1 July 1983
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Tweety Pie
16:25 Animals in Action
16:50 Freetime

[Arran]

Children's ITV a year later.

Monday 5 March 1984
16:00 Alphabet Zoo
16:15 Batfink
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Danger Marmalade at Work
17:00 Dangermouse

Tuesday 6 March 1984
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Batfink
16:20 On Safari
16:45 CB TV

Wednesday 7 March 1984
16:00 Flicks
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Luna
16:50 Jangles

Thursday 8 March 1984
16:00 Emma and Grandpa
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Madabout
16:45 The Book Tower

Friday 9 March 1984
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Batfink
16:25 Emu’s World
16:50 Freetime

Monday 6 August 1984
16:00 Flicks
16:15 The Moomins
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Dramarama

Tuesday 7 August 1984
16:00 Portland Bill
16:15 The Moomins
16:20 Under the Same Sky
16:50 Freetime

Wednesday 8 August 1984
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 The Moomins
16:20 Sooty
16:40 Cartoon
16:50 Hold Tight!

Thursday 9 August 1984
16:00 Heggerty Haggerty
16:15 The Moomins
16:20 Video and Chips
16:45 Starstrider

Friday 10 August 1984
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 The Moomins
16:25 Emu’s All Live Pink Windmill Show

Children’s programmes on BBC 1 started at 16:20 during the summer with Play School followed by one programme, Newsround (except Friday), then another programme.

Monday 5 November 1984
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:15 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Murphy’s Mob

Tuesday 6 November 1984
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:15 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 On Safari
16:45 CB TV

Wednesday 7 November 1984
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Chish ‘N’ Fips
16:45 Razzmatazz

Thursday 8 November 1984
16:00 Buttercup Buskers
16:15 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Stanley Bagshaw
16:30 First Post
16:45 Murphy’s Mob

Friday 9 November 1984
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Rub a Dub Dub
16:25 Wind in the Willows
16:50 Illusions

He-Man and Masters of the Universe was very prominent in 1984.

It was also the last year of On Safari.

The BBC was now using computer graphics as presentation material during its children’s programme timeslot - possibly a short term response to the success of the presentation format of Children's ITV.

[Arran]

The Dramarama episode on Monday 6 August 1984 was Rachel and Rosie, produced by TVS.

[Arran]

Children’s ITV during the last week of the old BBC 1 schedule for children’s programmes, which started with Play School.

Monday 25 March 1985
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:15 Batfink
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest

Tuesday 26 March 1985
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Alice in Wonderland
16:45 CB TV

Wednesday 27 March 1985
16:00 Button Moon
16:15 Batfink
16:20 The Razzmatazz Rocky Horoscope Show
16:45 Fraggle Rock

Thursday 28 March 1985
16:00 The Little Green Man
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Sooty
16:40 Words, Words, Words
17:00 Dangermouse

Friday 29 March 1985
16:00 Rainbow
16:20 Batfink
16:25 How Dare You!
16:50 Freetime

Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest was a drama series produced by Thames originating from a Dramarama episode of the same name that was broadcast on 4 June 1984.

He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with Bananaman and Fonz and the Happy Days Gang on BBC 1.

Sooty and Words, Words, Words were back to back with Dogtanian on BBC 1.

[Arran]

Children’s ITV during the first week of the new BBC 1 schedule for children’s programmes, following the removal of Play School.

Monday 1 April 1985
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:15 Batfink
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Dramarama: Easy

Tuesday 2 April 1985
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Alice in Wonderland
16:45 CB TV

Wednesday 3 April 1985
16:00 Button Moon
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Razzmatazz
16:45 Fraggle Rock. New Trash Heap in Town

Thursday 4 April 1985
16:00 Foxtales
16:15 Batfink
16:20 Wonders in Letterland
16:45 First Post

Friday 5 April 1985
No Children’s ITV – Good Friday

He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with season 2 of Dungeons and Dragons on BBC 1. Just like with season 1 in the autumn of 1984. Any ideas if children were divided into two factions during 1984 and 1985 depending on whether they watched He-Man and Masters of the Universe or Dungeons and Dragons on Mondays?

Wonders in Letterland and First Post were back to back with Dogtanian on BBC 1.

[George 1978]

Wednesday 7 November 1984
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:15 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Chish & Fips
16:45 Razzmatazz

It's up to us, it's up to us; it's up to us, it's up to us... The Code of the Gnomes - that's Us! Two gnomes outside a fish and chip shop, watching out for "The Big Ones", hence their size.

I believe that the title had inspired real-life chip shops to adopt the spoonerism as well - a search on Yell proves that fact. Tony Aitken, (aka Fred the Postman in No 73 as well as being related to the namesake MP and TV-am's first CEO), was in it as well.

Was repeated in around 1987 at roughly the same time of year, giving an illusion to youngsters with not very long memories that a second series must have been made.

[Arran]

Children’s ITV when Children’s BBC was launched.

Monday 9 September 1985
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Cartoon Time
16:20 She-Ra: The Princess of Power
16:45 Children of the Dog Star

Tuesday 10 September 1985
16:00 Flicks
16:10 Cartoon Time. Deduce you Say
16:20 Storybook International. The Surprise Gift
16:45 The End of the Rainbow Show

Wednesday 11 September 1985
16:00 Storytime. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
16:10 Cartoon Time. Dime to Retire
16:20 Video & Chips
16:50 Hold Tight!

Thursday 12 September 1985
16:00 Alfie Atkins
16:10 Cartoon Time. The Ducksters
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Children of the Dog Star

Friday 13 September 1985
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Cartoon Time
16:25 Starstrider
16:50 Illusions

Monday 16 September 1985
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Cartoon Time. Catty Cornered
16:20 She-Ra: The Princess of Power
16:45 Children of the Dog Star

Tuesday 17 September 1985
16:00 Flicks
16:15 Cartoon Time. Dog Pound
16:20 Storybook International. The Robber Chief
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 18 September 1985
16:00 Orm and Cheep
16:10 Cartoon Time
16:20 Video & Chips
16:50 Hold Tight!

Thursday 19 September 1985
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 Cartoon Time. Gift Wrapped
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Children of the Dog Star

Friday 20 September 1985
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Cartoon Time
16:25 Starstrider
16:50 Illusions

She-Ra: The Princess of Power was back to back with Spider-Man on Children’s BBC.

Monday 9 December 1985
16:00 Tickle of the Tum
16:10 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:20 She-Ra: The Princess of Power
16:45 Murphy’s Mob

Tuesday 10 December 1985
16:00 Flicks
16:10 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:20 Dangermouse
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 11 December 1985
16:00 Orm and Cheep
16:10 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:20 The Krazy Kitchen
16:45 Danger Marmalade at Work

Thursday 12 December 1985
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Murphy’s Mob

Friday 13 December 1985
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:25 Worldwise
16:50 Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It

Scooby Doo and Murphy’s Mob were back to back with Ulysses 31 on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

It is plausible that the creation of Children’s ITV in 1983 was the driving force which resulted in the BBC launching Children’s BBC in September 1985. The BBC didn’t seem to be moved by Watch It! and create its own on-screen brand for children’s programmes, like See Saw for preschool programmes and BBC Schools for schools programmes, in response before Children’s ITV appeared on screen.

There was something warm and friendly about Children’s ITV with its own branding and continuity presenters. Almost like a TV channel in its own right, separate from whatever was your regional ITV company, for just over an hour in the weekday afternoons. A time kids knew was their own. The BBC presentation in 1983 (before computer graphics were used as presentation material) felt cold in comparison, but the BBC bosses at the time probably felt that the novelty of Children’s ITV wouldn’t last long so relied on the strength of programmes over presentation until they felt compelled to come up with something more attractive.

The operation of Children’s ITV in its early years was:

1. Continuity material was pre-recorded in a small TV studio in London earlier in the day, then submitted to Central Television via video link.

2. Idents and continuity were played out and networked by Central Television.

3. The four, or sometimes five, programmes were played out and networked by the ITV company which had produced or acquired the programme.

The early set and style of presentation reflected the presenter who was doing the presenting that month, or the programme that they starred in, but later a common set was used which allowed the presenter to be joined by guests in the studio for interviews.

This arrangement was cumbersome because synchronisation of pre-recorded programme material from different sources in the ITV network was difficult. It resulted in a situation where a tape of the programme about to be shown originating from Thames, Yorkshire Television etc. would have to start playing whilst a presenter was talking in a pre-recorded piece of continuity currently being played out by Central Television. The handover between ITV companies did not always run smoothly – sometimes the programme would appear early resulting in the presenter cut short, or the programme would fail to appear and the screen would blank for a few seconds as the continuity ended. The continuity was changed so that the presenter held the final pose for a few seconds after they finished so that the transmission controller at Central Television had some video material just in case the programme about to be shown was slightly late.

In contrast, the continuity from Children’s BBC was broadcast live from ‘The Broom Cupboard’ and all programmes originated from the BBC. This resulted in a slicker and more relaxed style of presentation than that from Children’s ITV. Something that would have been much easier for the centralised BBC to accomplish back in the 1970s than ITV with it’s regional structure and programmes originating from several companies.

[Richard1978]

I had thought Batfink was usually on CBBC but some cartoons moved channels, Scooby-Doo seemed swap a few times over the years.