THE ADVENTURE GAME (BBC2 1980-86)

Fantastic series for BBC2 teatimes, this game was set on Arg - a small planet of little consequence - in which C-list celebrities had to work their way through a series of logic games, winning drognas - the planet's currency - as they went.

Best remembered for the scary Vortex end game, where the celebs had to cross a hexagon grid to safety, but risk stepping on the ever-moving vortex which would zap the contestant into space. Also there was the ruler of Arg - the Rangdo - who looked like an aspidistra, and his grey-haired butler Gordon.

Nostalgia rating (out of 5):

Will we see it again? It was supposed (incorrectly) that most episodes were wiped by the BBC, but Challenge TV recently revived it as part of their 'cult' strand, so keep an eye out!

ASK THE FAMILY (BBC1 1967-84, UK Gold/BBC2 1999)

King of the comb-over, Robert Robinson was our host for this incredibly long-running, unthreatening quiz show for the early evening.

Based around two teams of middle-class nuclear families, questions would often be aimed at particular members of each family, eg 'this one's for eldest child and father' etc. Best remembered for the round in which some household object was shown close-up (above right) and gradually zoomed out until Mr Jones buzzes in to proclaim that it's an egg whisk.

Somehow, the Radio Times managed to describe it as 'exciting'.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Most 1970s and 80s game shows seem to have been revived at some point, and even Ask the Family received a 1990s makeover, with Alan Titchmarsh in the chair, and strange back-to-front scheduling which saw it debut on UK Gold before being repeated on BBC2 teatimes. And the programme has now been exhumed once again for BBC2 - this time with Dick and Dom in charge, no less!

BANANAMAN (BBC1/2 1983-2000?)

First shown in October 1983 - the same week as SuperTed - Bananaman was one of my faves, because it poked fun at the superhero genre. The Goodies reunited to provide the voices for the characters - Eric, who would turn into Bananaman, his right-hand crow, Crow, Chief O'Reilly and the multitude of baddies, from the Weatherman to Auntie, and the Mole to the Snowman.

Never been off our screens - at least not until recently - therefore low nostalgia score.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? No longer on CBBC's playlist - most recent known showings were in 2000.

BEAT THE TEACHER (BBC1 1984-88)

Created by 80s kids show king Clive Doig (who is still producing a weekly Trackword for the Radio Times), this was a surprisingly addictive teacher vs pupil quiz show, one playing noughts, the other crosses. The questions were deliberately pitched to give neither an advantage. Correct answers were awarded a number of moves on a noughts and crosses board - "Middle middle two, top left one please, Bruno!"

The up-and-coming Howard Stableford (see also Puzzle Trail, Jigsaw, Tomorrow's World) presented series one in 1984, followed by ex-Manfred Mann star Paul Jones for the next two series, then Bruno Brookes brought with him a revamp and a dreadful new theme tune (the one here is the original).

The 'running champion' format used from series two meant that the same contestant could carry on winning for weeks on end, and frequently did; and the teachers usually did better than the pupils - Mr Wallin scored a grand totel of 1260 in the second series, while aptly named Mr Champion scored 620, but top pupil Sophie Atkinson only managed 370.

Now come on, what other website can bring you the results of Beat the Teacher from 1985???

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Umm, no

BELLAMY'S BACKYARD SAFARI (BBC1 1981)

I marvelled at the way David Bellamy was able to shrink down to miniscule size and go wummaging frough the undergrowf in his back garden, coming face to face with giant-sized ants and the like. Unfortunately today, it looks like very cheap CSO (blue screen) effect. Later, in its sequel, Bellamy went wummaging around the beach tiny-sized.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Unlikely, the special effects appear laughable in today's computer age. However, I did accidently stumble across a repeat of the Seaside Safari on daytime BBC2 a few years ago, so you never know.

BLUE PETER (BBC1 1958-the end of time)

To gauge a person's age, just ask them who their Blue Peter dream team was. Me? Simon Groom, Peter Duncan and Sarah Greene or Janet Ellis in the early eighties.

Possibly the most memorable - and perhaps legendary - moment of our decade was the November Scandal of 1983, when the Blue Peter garden was vandalised; it fell to Ellis to impart the news (above right).

After Groom left to become their Countryside Correspondent (ie was never seen again), Mark Curry joined and added a slightly comic touch by driving a steam train into the set, and knocking off the head of a lego man (above right).

The theme tune here is the 1979 Mike Oldfield version used throughout the decade before it descended into a mess of synthesisers and banging dustbin lids.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Yes - and unlike most things on television, it actually hasn't changed much...

The 1980s dream team reunited for 2001's I Love Blue Peter. And look - Peter Duncan's still got that suit!

VIDEO CLIPS: The 1984 time capsule
A little bit of history The box is opened!

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS (BBC1 1984)

Possibly the most fondly remembered children's drama of the decade, this dramatisation of John Masefield's novel first shown leading up to Christmas 1984 was guaranteed to put you in a festive mood, particularly with the rather haunting arrangement of 'The First Noel' used as the theme tune.

Set in the 1930s, it starred the late Patrick Troughton as Cole Hawlings (above), the punch and judy man who lumbers young Kay Harker with the Box of Delights, which goes on to cause no end of trouble during the six episodes. Unusually, the drama used sequences of animation (above left - which had it been produced today would inevitably have been computerised), and can immediately be dated by the usage of typical BBC mid-80s synthesised incidental music. Listen to an example

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Repeat showings have been sporadic - first in 1986, then not again till 1998 on BBC Choice. Most recently the digital CBBC channel showed the entire series in one go at Christmas 2002 (pity they had to butcher the closing credits), so keep an eye out again next Christmas...

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