WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CHILDREN'S TV?

The Woman's Own columnist has her say on parks, aliens and dating dress codes

- DAWN NEESOM

The TV shows of our youth were, arguably, so much better!

There is nothing on earth like children's TV to give you that warm, fuzzy glow of nostalgia. In my case it was literally a warm fuzzy glow, as the flammable tinsel and candle Advent decoration I'd made following Blue Peter's instructions nearly burnt the house down.

Aah, but back then fun and living a little dangerously was what kids' TV was all about. In these days of 'elf and safety, the poor little darlings would probably have to wear high-vis vests to even watch shows you and I survived.

Each generation has their own Doctor (John Pertwee) in Doctor Who, their own Blue Peter pet (Shep) and their own weird show (The Clangers) that instantly transport them back to childhood.

Sadly, for today's nippers the grandaddy of all kids' TV shows, Blue Peter, has recently been turned into a pale parody of itself, from the live mayhem of incontinent elephants and death-defying stunts (John Noakes climbing Nelson's Column in flared jeans!) on prime-time terrestrial telly to sanitised, pre-recorded episodes on CBBC.

The kids' TV of the past, ironically, encouraged children to get away from the screen and do something 'less boring' instead. There was even a show called that.

You were encouraged to make things like Thunderbirds' Tracy Island and break things (like your arms) by riding bikes, making dens and climbing trees. Presenters were household names, sticky-back plastic was a thing, and no loo-roll tube or washing-up liquid bottle was ever wasted.