“An old, saggy cloth cat. Baggy and a bit loose at the seams, but Emily loved him.” Thus was the star of Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s 1974 stop-motion classic introduced. Emily (played by Firmin’s daughter Emily) would bring broken things back to her shop and leave them in front of her sleepy pink-and-white-striped stuffed cat. He’d wake up, his friends would come to life and the object would be magically fixed. Only 13 episodes were made but it regularly tops polls of the best children’s programme ever. Bagpuss himself has retired to the Canterbury Heritage Museum Photograph: Creations of Oliver Postgate
This animated 80s spy parody from Cosgrove Hall (makers of Chorlton and the Wheelies, Jamie and the Magic Torch and Danger Mouse spin-off Count Duckula) saw the titular rodent and his bumbling hamster sidekick, Penfold, fighting to save the world from the villainous likes of wheezy toad Baron Silas Greenback and his Italian crow henchman, Stiletto Mafiosa. The one-eyed “white wonder” spoke 34 languages, practised seventh-level yoga, mastered the ancient martial art of kung moggy and lived in a pillarbox. David Jason and Terry Scott provided the voices, and the show became the first British cartoon to crack the US market. Crumbs, chief! Penfold, shush! Photograph: FremantleMedia /Rex Features
Cue a cartoon sausage on a fork. Phil Redmond’s gritty school drama Grange Hill lasted an impressive three decades, starting in 1978 and ringing the final bell five years ago. Every viewer had their own favourite pupil, depending on age – Zammo Maguire, Gripper Stebson, Trisha Yates, Danny Kendall, Pogo Patterson, Stewpot Stewart, Roly Browning, Ziggy Greaves, Imelda Davis, Gonch Gardner – but the original anti-hero was mop-topped tearaway Tucker, played by Todd Carty. Along with mates Alan, Benny and Tommy, Tucker was always bunking off and getting into scrapes, but had a heart of gold underneath. He later had his own spin-off, Tucker’s Luck, and returned to Grange Hill for the last ever episode. Flippin’ ’eck, Tucker! Leg it! Photograph: PR
Another cult classic of surprisingly short duration, there were just 16 episodes of this 1974 Hanna-Barbera kung fu parody. Voiced by Scatman Crothers, hero Penry Pooch was a “mild-mannered janitor” at a police station who jumped into a filing cabinet to transform into high-kicking crime-fighter Hong Kong Phooey. Who is actually pretty useless until his world-weary cat Spot (who was striped, obviously) rolls his eyes and intervenes. The duo rode in the Phooeymobile, which could be transformed into any vehicle with a bang of a gong. A film remake is currently in production, voiced by Eddie Murphy. Fanriffic! Hiiii-ya! Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
“And I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids!” This Hanna-Barbera cartoon saw four teenagers (Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy) and their talking great dane travel around in a psychedelic van (the Mystery Machine), cracking supposedly supernatural cases – which invariably ended up being the work of a flesh-and-blood villain in a mask. The cowardly, permanently hungry mutt was originally called Too Much, but renamed after a Frank Sinatra scat. The franchise started in 1969 and is still going strong. Quality-wise, however, it all went horribly downhill when Scoob’s deeply annoying nephew Scrappy-Doo joined in 1980 Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
Viewers of a certain age had a rush of nostalgia when the BBC announced that these cult favourites were being revived and would return on pre-school channel CBeebies in 2015. The original 26 episodes aired between 1969 and 1972, featuring a family of knitted, whistling, pink mouse‑like creatures who lived on a blue planet in craters topped by dustbin lids that closed with a clang (hence their name). They ate blue string pudding or green broth supplied by the benign Soup Dragon. They popped up in a 1972 Doctor Who story and a special episode was made for the 1974 general election, entitled “Vote for Froglet!” Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features
The real star of current kiddy phenomenon Peppa Pig isn’t the puddle-jumping porcine princess but her father: a bearded, bespectacled architect with a big tummy. Cut from similar cloth to Homer Simpson, Daddy Pig is lazy, useless and frequently more childish than his five-year-old daughter. He snores loudly, loses his glasses regularly and makes a mess of anything remotely practical. However, he also turns out to be a former champion diver, world record puddle-jumper, expert storyteller and quite cool, really. The animation studio Astley Baker Davies also makes Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom and the titular characters aren’t the stars there either – that honour goes to naughty fairy Nanny Plum Photograph: five
Many Muppets can lay claim to being the best – leader Kermit, diva Miss Piggy, drummer Animal, the incomprehensible Swedish Chef, long-suffering Beaker, daredevil Gonzo, hecklers Statler and Waldorf – but our prize goes to the plucky orangey-brown bear in the pork-pie hat and polka-dot necktie. He’s a terrible comedian, with his one-liners met by embarrassed groans or thrown tomatoes, but Fozzie never gives up on his standup dream. He was originally performed by Frank Oz but was actually named after puppeteer Faz Fazakas. Fozzie now resides in the teddy bear collection at Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre. Wocka wocka wocka! Photograph: Rex Features
Each of the 14 episodes of this Walter Mitty-esque early-70s classic followed the same pattern: the bowler-hatted black-suited hero would leave his home at 52 Festive Road to visit a fancy-dress shop, where “as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared”. Mr Benn would try on an outfit, step through a magic door in the changing room and find himself in a world that matched his costume. Afterwards, Mr Benn would return to suburban life but find a small souvenir of his adventure. Ray Brooks narrated, while the character was created by David McKee, also known for King Rollo and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant Photograph: David McKee/Courtesy of King Rollo Films Ltd & Nickelodeon
The doughy-faced clown with the spotty bag might grate with some parents but Justin Fletcher is a semi-deity to under-fives. Over the past decade, he’s become the official face of the CBeebies channel, providing links and presenting shows such as Tikkabilla, Higgledy House, Something Special, Justin’s House and Gigglebiz – either as himself, often while using sign language, or in his Mr Tumble guise. The hardest-working man in kids’ telly also provides voices for Tweenies, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Olly the Little White Van and Thomas the Tank Engine, among others. He’s won three Baftas and been awarded an MBE for his tireless work as the nation’s favourite babysitter Photograph: BBC
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