Children's ITV schedules

[Arran]

There were some funny, although not terribly well executed programmes, on Children’s ITV. Does anybody remember The Ratties and Gilbert’s Fridge?

Palace Hill was produced by Central Television as a parody of Grange Hill.

For some strange reason Children’s ITV broadcast Dogtanian only one year after the BBC had broadcast it on Saturday mornings and two years after Children’s BBC had broadcast it for the second time. Allegedly viewing figures were quite low, in comparison to previous years, and those who had watched it on the BBC begrudged that scenes were cut out of episodes to shorten them in order to fit the timeslot.

Monday 12 December 1988
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:10 The Ratties
16:20 The Real Ghostbusters
16:45 Knightmare

Tuesday 13 December 1988
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Ratties
16:20 The Sooty Show
16:45 Count Duckula

Wednesday 14 December 1988
16:00 The Raggy Dolls
16:10 The Ratties
16:20 Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
16:50 Palace Hill – Your Mother Wouldn’t Like it

Thursday 15 December 1988
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:10 The Ratties
16:20 Dangermouse
16:45 Gilbert’s Fridge

Friday 16 December 1988
16:00 Crush a Grape
16:30 Scooby Doo
16:45 Freetime

[Arran]

Mark Granger took over from Gary Terzza and Debbie Shore as the main presenter of Children’s ITV in September 1988. Occasionally Andi Peters (later the presenter for Children's BBC) stood in for Mark Granger during his days off.

A rare appearance of a networked programme from TSW. Tube Mice was a cartoon about the adventures of mice who lived in the London Underground. A somewhat bizarre theme for a programme from a ITV company which served Devon and Cornwall.

Border Television was another infrequent contributor to Children’s ITV. The Crush a Grape gameshow was probably their highest profile programme, although it never achieved the same legendary status of BMX Beat.

Other notable programmes for the autumn include Count Duckula and the second season of Knightmare.

Monday 10 October 1988
16:00 Mother Goose Stories
16:10 Tube Mice
16:20 The Real Ghostbusters
16:45 Knightmare

Tuesday 11 October 1988
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Tube Mice
16:20 The Sooty Show
16:45 Count Duckala

Wednesday 12 October 1988
16:00 The Raggy Dolls
16:10 Tube Mice
16:20 Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
16:45 Toksvig

Thursday 13 October 1988
16:00 Button Moon
16:10 Tube Mice
16:20 Wish I Could Play Like That
16:45 Dangermouse

Friday 14 October 1988
16:00 Scooby Doo
16:10 Crush a Grape
16:45 Freetime

The Real Ghostbusters was back to back with Defenders of the Earth on Children’s BBC.

Knightmare was back to back with Beat the Teacher and Blue Peter on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

The final episode of Splash – the Children’s ITV successor to Magpie from the 1970s, and competitor to Blue Peter. There would not be a third attempt to create this style of programme for Children’s ITV.

Panic Station is an almost forgotten TVS programme broadcast during the summers of 1987 and 1988. A curious mixture of comedy and education that centred around a top secret underground lab where a team of experts were investigating and exploring a wide range of scientific theories and practices. It was presented by rubber puppets that resembled those from Spitting Image.

Young Krypton was a children’s version of the Krypton Factor gameshow. It was presented by Ross King.

Does anybody remember Kellyvision? Presented by Chris Kelly of Clapperboard fame.

Monday 18 July 1988
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Young Krypton
16:45 Dramarama: Now You See Them

Tuesday 19 July 1988
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Sign a Story
16:25 What Next?
16:35 Inspector Gadget
17:00 Bellamy’s Bugle

Wednesday 20 July 1988
16:00 The Little Green Man
16:10 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Children of the Dog Star
16:45 Kellyvision

Thursday 21 July 1988
16:00 Tumbledown Farm
16:10 Sign a Story
16:20 Emu’s World
16:45 Panic Station

Friday 22 July 1988
16:00 Button Moon
16:10 Rub a Dub Dub
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Splash

[Arran]

The end of He-Man on Children’s ITV. Episode 125, Bargain with Evil. The last episode in the series – 130, The Cold Zone was broadcast a week earlier.

The last episode of She-Ra was broadcast on Saturday 17 December 1988 as part of Motormouth. Episode 18, Horde Prime Takes a Holiday. The second series of She-Ra was not broadcast on ITV due to declining ratings of the show.

Does anybody remember C.A.B. which was broadcast between 1986 and 1989? http://cabhq.50webs.com/

News at Twelve was a very offbeat programme about a 12 year old running a television news studio from his home.

Monday 14 March 1988
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 The Real Ghostbusters
16:45 News at Twelve

Tuesday 15 March 1988
No Children’s ITV. Budget Day.

Wednesday 16 March 1988
16:00 Rod, Jane and Freddy
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 The Wind in the Willows
16:45 C.A.B.

Thursday 17 March 1988
16:00 Creepy Crawlies
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 The Sooty Show
16:45 Dennis
16:50 Erasmus Microman

Friday 18 March 1988
16:00 Revolting Animals
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 He-Man and The Masters of the Universe
16:45 Splash

The Sooty Show, Dennis and Erasmus Microman were back to back with Around the World with Willy Fog on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

Some obscure and forgotten programmes – The Secret World of Polly Flint, Y.E.S. Adventure of a Lifetime, The Gemini Factor, and The Haunted School.

Monday 2 March 1987
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Batfink
16:20 How Dare You!
16:35 Roadrunner
16:45 The Secret World of Polly Flint

Tuesday 3 March 1987
16:00 Button Moon
16:10 Batfink
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 4 March 1987
16:00 Creepy Crawlies
16:10 Batfink
16:20 Sooty
16:45 Y.E.S.

Thursday 5 March 1987
16:00 Orm and Cheep
16:10 Batfink
16:20 The Wind in the Willows
16:45 The Blunders
16:50 Adventure of a Lifetime

Friday 6 March 1987
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Batfink
16:20 T-Bag Bounces Back
16:45 Dangermouse

How Dare You!, Roadrunner and The Secret World of Polly Flint were back to back with the Mysterious Cities of Gold on Children’s BBC.

The Wind in the Willows, The Blunders and Adventure of a Lifetime were back to back with Thundercats on Children’s BBC.

Monday 7 December 1987
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Disney’s Duck Tales
16:45 The Gemini Factor: Electric Storms

Tuesday 8 December 1987
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Telebugs
16:25 Emu’s Wide World

Wednesday 9 December 1987
16:00 The Pondles
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Teddy Ruxpin
16:50 Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It

Thursday 10 December 1987
16:00 Flicks
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Chish ‘N’ Fips
16:45 The Haunted School

Friday 11 December 1987
16:00 The Raggy Dolls
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Splash

Chish ‘N’ Fips and The Haunted School were back to back with Around the World with Willy Fog on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

The first series of Knightmare

Monday 7 September 1987
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Duck Tales
16:45 Knightmare

Tuesday 8 September 1987
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:25 Andrew O’Connor’s Joke Machine
16:35 Bellamy’s Bugle
16:50 Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It

Wednesday 9 September 1987
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Teddy Ruxpin
16:45 Hold Tight!

Thursday 10 September 1987
16:00 Portland Bill
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Storybook International: The Magic Stone
16:45 Professor Lobster

Friday 11 September 1987
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Splash

Knightmare was back to back with Molly’s Pilgrim, Newsround and Blue Peter on Children’s BBC.

The Adventures of Tin Tin and Teddy Ruxpin were were back to back with The Puppy's New Adventures on Children’s BBC.

Storybook International and Professor Lobster were back to back with Thundercats on Children’s BBC.

Monday 14 September 1987
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Duck Tales
16:35 Bugs Bunny
16:45 Knightmare

Tuesday 15 September 1987
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:25 Andrew O’Connor’s Joke Machine
16:35 Bellamy’s Bugle
16:50 Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It

Wednesday 16 September 1987
16:00 The Pondles
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Teddy Ruxpin
16:45 Hold Tight!

Thursday 17 September 1987
16:00 Portland Bill
16:10 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Storybook International: Great Heart
16:45 Professor Lobster

Friday 18 September 1987
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:15 The Adventures of Tin Tin
16:20 Scooby Doo
16:45 Splash

Knightmare was back to back with Beat the Teacher, Newsround and Blue Peter on Children’s BBC.

Storybook International and Professor Lobster were back to back with Thundercats on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

Children's ITV went live on 1 June 1987 from the Central Television studios in Birmingham. The Children’s ITV studio had previously been used for in-vision continuity for the Central ITV region until it was abolished earlier in the year.

Gary Terzza and Debbie Shore presented continuity live which resulted in a smoother, almost seamless, transition between continuity and programmes.

The Dodo Club was a very rare appearance of a networked programme from Channel Television. Viewing figures were almost certainly smaller than they should have been because it was back to back with The Mysterious Cities of Gold on Children’s BBC. I’m intrigued to know exactly how this programme was networked because the video link for Channel Television was mono directional at the time, taking the TVS broadcast from the Rowridge transmitter.

Monday 1 June 1987
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 Dennis
16:15 Ragdolly Anna
16:30 The Dodo Club
16:45 Dramarama: Flashback

Tuesday 2 June 1987
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 Dennis
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 3 June 1987 (Late start due to Derby Day ‘87)
16:05 Creepy Crawlies
16:20 Video and Chips
16:35 How Dare You!
16:45 Murphy’s Mob

Thursday 4 June 1987
16:00 Fat Tulip Too
16:10 Dennis
16:20 Inspector Gadget
16:45 The Blunders
16:50 The Ultimate Machine

Friday 5 June 1987
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 Dennis
16:25 Emu’s Wide World
17:00 Bellamy’s Bugle

Creepy Crawlies and Video and Chips were back to back with Ulysses 31 on Children’s BBC.

Inspector Gadget and The Blunders were back to back with Thundercats on Children’s BBC.

Rainbow, Dennis and Emu’s Wide World were back to back with Ulysses 31 on Children’s BBC.

On Monday 15 June there was an episode of Dramarama, Undertow of the Armada, by Ulster Television. It featured scenes of the Giant's Causeway. Was this the only Ulster Television contribution to Children’s ITV? Any idea if it was networked from the Havelock Road TV studios in Belfast or was it networked by Central Television?

[Arran]

Plenty of (forgotten?) TVS programmes in 1986: The Telebugs, Henry’s Leg, Running Loose, Worldwise, along with several episodes of Dramarama – including The Come-Uppance of Captain Katt.

Monday 3 February 1986
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Spirit Bay

Tuesday 4 February 1986
16:00 Button Moon
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Wind in the Willows
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 5 February 1986
16:00 Moschops
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 The Wall Game
16:45 The Book Tower

Thursday 6 February 1986
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 The Telebugs
16:15 Ragdolly Anna
16:25 Bellamy’s Bugle
16:40 The Sooty Show
17:00 Alias the Jester

Friday 7 February 1986
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Telebugs
16:25 Scooby Doo
16:50 The Best of Behind the Bike Sheds

He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with Thunderbirds 2086 on Children’s BBC.

Bellamy’s Bugle and The Sooty Show were back to back with Ulysses 31 on Children’s BBC.

Monday 30 June 1986
16:00 Alphabet Zoo
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 She-Ra: The Princess of Power
16:45 Dramarama: The Come-Uppance of Captain Katt

Tuesday 1 July 1986
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 Sooty
16:35 Woody Woodpecker
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 2 July 1986
16:00 The Little Green Man
16:10 The Moomins
16:15 Basil’s Joke Machine
16:30 Razzmatazz
16:55 Roadrunner
17:00 Bellamy’s Bugle

Thursday 3 July 1986
16:00 Tales from Fat Tulip’s Garden
16:10 The Moomins
16:20 Nature Trail
16:45 Under the Same Sky

Friday 4 July 1986
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Moomins
16:25 Scooby Doo
16:50 The Bizz

The Moomins and Scooby Doo were back to back with Dogtanian on Children’s BBC.

Monday 3 November 1986
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Trap Door
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Henry’s Leg

Tuesday 4 November 1986
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 The Trap Door
16:20 C.A.B.
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 5 November 1986
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:10 The Trap Door
16:20 Garfield in Paradise
16:50 Hold Tight!

Thursday 6 November 1986
16:00 Flicks
16:10 The Trap Door
16:20 Animals in Action
16:45 Henry’s Leg

Friday 7 November 1986
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Trap Door
16:20 Worldwise
16:45 Alias the Jester
17:00 Bellamy’s Bugle

Animals in Action and Henry’s Leg were back to back with Dungeons and Dragons on Children’s BBC.

Monday 10 November 1986
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 From the Top

Tuesday 11 November 1986
16:00 The Giddy Game Show
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 C.A.B.
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 12 November 1986
16:00 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 S.W.A.L.L.O.W.
16:50 Hold Tight!

Thursday 13 November 1986
16:00 Flicks
16:10 The Telebugs
16:20 Running Loose
16:45 Dangermouse

Friday 14 November 1986
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Telebugs
16:25 Inspector Gadget
16:50 Worldwise

He-Man and Masters of the Universe was back to back with the Mysterious Cities of Gold on Children’s BBC. In January 1987 He-Man and Masters of the Universe was moved to Tuesday – possibly in order to avoid this conflict.

Running Loose and Dangermouse were back to back with Dungeons and Dragons on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

A rare appearance of a networked programme from TSW. The adventure gameshow Treasures of the Mindlord is said to be the precursor to Knightmare.

Any idea if it was networked from the Derry's Cross TV studios in Plymouth or was it networked by Central Television?

Monday 28 April 1986
16:00 Tickle on the Tum
16:10 The Blunders
16:20 He-Man and Masters of the Universe
16:45 Supergran

Tuesday 29 April 1986
16:00 Cockleshell Bay
16:10 The Blunders
16:20 Sooty
16:45 Splash

Wednesday 30 April 1986
16:00 Portland Bill
16:10 The Blunders
16:15 Basil’s Joke Machine
16:30 Poparound
16:50 Road Runner
17:00 Bellamy’s Bugle

Thursday 1 May 1986
16:00 The Raggy Dolls
16:10 The Blunders
16:15 Treasures of the Mindlord
16:45 Supergran

Friday 2 May 1986
16:00 Rainbow
16:15 The Blunders
16:25 Scooby Doo
16:50 The Bizz

The Blunders and He-Man and Masters of the Universe were back to back with The Puppy’s Further Adventures on Children’s BBC.

The Blunders, Basil’s Joke Machine and Poparound were back to back with Dogtanian on Children’s BBC.

Rainbow, The Blunders and Scooby Doo were back to back with Dogtanian on Children’s BBC.

[Arran]

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

Some externally produced programmes were shown on both BBC and ITV at different times. Only programmes produced by the BBC and ITV companies didn't swap channels.

[Richard1978]

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

[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.

[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.

[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 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.