DOCTOR WHO (BBC1 1963-89, 1996, 2005-date)

The greatest television programme of all time? According to the number of internet sites devoted to it, it may well be.

Doctor Who entered the 80s with new titles and a new theme tune - in my opinion the best, though many would disagree (see the new look by clicking on the heading). My memory stretches back as far as 1981's Logopolis when Tom Baker's Doctor fell off a radio telescope and regenerated into the fresh-faced Peter Davison. (That Christmas saw the spin-off programme K9 and Company with Lis Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), but this never progressed to a series).

Davison brought a more dynamic edge to the role; but controversially the show was moved in 1982 from Saturdays to a mid-week slot. Some of his best stories included Mawdryn Undead and The Black Orchid. In Earthshock Adric became first companion since 1965 to die. In November 1983 the memorable 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors was shown, with all the surviving Doctors participating except Tom Baker - a waxwork dummy took his place in the photo call; Richard Hurndall took the part of the late William Hartnell.

1984, and Colin Baker took over, adding a touch of arrogance which many disliked. It was intended that this approach would be toned down as Baker progressed in the role. But he was never given the chance, being ditched after just two-and-a-bit seasons, the last of which consisted of one great long story, the awful Trial of a Time Lord; not helped by the inexplicable casting of Bonnie Langford.

Things improved when Sylvester McCoy became the seventh Doctor in 1987. But with a much reduced episode count, reduced budgets and being scheduled up against Coronation Street, the BBC were clearly determined to kill the show off. They did when the final story of the original series, ironically titled Survival, was transmitted on 6th December 1989.

Oh yes, and let us not forget the Daleks, Cybermen, the Master etc etc etc...

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Oh yes!

EUREKA! (BBC2/1 1982-87)

Another show created by Clive Doig (see Beat the Teacher, Jigsaw) which illustrated how things we now take for granted were discovered or invented, eg the vacuum cleaner, the roller skate, the crisp etc, by use of short, light-hearted sketches acted out by Clive's informal repertory company which included Sylvester McCoy, Julia Binsted (see also Jigsaw), Mike Savage and Madeline Smith. (They regrouped in 1987 for another Doig creation, The Album).

The first series in 1982 on BBC2 was introduced, bizarrely enough, by Jeremy Beadle (right), at that time also appearing in ITV's Saturday night extravaganza Game for a Laugh (see also). A year later, Sarah Greene and Newsround's Paul McDowell presented. Series 3 in 1985 saw Paul go solo, while the final series in 1987, switching to BBC1, saw the actors do the show on their own.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Naaah

EVER DECREASING CIRCLES (BBC1 1984-89)

Six years after the ending of The Good Life, Richard Briers was reunited with writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey for this surburban sitcom in which he starred as the interfering busybody Martin Bryce. Penelope Wilton appeared as his long-suffering wife Ann, and Peter Egan played their neighbour Paul, who was despised by Martin for being 'Mr Perfect' but adored by everyone else. The high point of the series, though, must be the delightfully twee Howard and Hilda Hughes, who were always seen in matching jumpers.

Most episodes revolved around Martin's dedication to the local community. One episode featured the inevitable Neighbourhood Watch storyline; a repeat of this instalment in 1988 had been immediately preceded by a Terry and June repeat with an identical plotline... (Hover over the image for more).

Other domestic BBC sitcoms of the same era include William Gaunt-starring No Place Like Home, the Ronnie Corbett vehicle Sorry! (language, Timothy!) and, rather less successfully, Wyatt's Watchdogs with Brian Wilde, which took the Neighbourhood Watch theme and stretched it out to an entire series.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Repeated sporadically on Granada Plus. Unfortunately, the running gag of Martin turning the telephone receiver round before walking into the living room doesn't seem quite as funny as it did 15 years ago...

THE FAMILY NESS (BBC1/2 1984-99)

The first result of the Peter Maddocks school of animation (later productions included Penny Crayon and Jimbo and the Jet Set), this cartoon was about children Elspeth and Angus who lived by Loch Ness, and one day discovered there was not just one monster living in the Loch, but a whole family of Nessies. And so there was Ferocious-ness, Clever-ness, Forgetful-ness, Her Royal High-ness - you get the idea. The children could summon any one of them by blowing on their secret 'thistle whistles'.

One episode consisted entirely of an extended version of the closing theme tune, 'You'll Never Find a Nessie in the Zoo', which you can listen to here.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? After a decade-and-a-half of repeat runs, the Nessies now appear to have dropped off the CBBC playlist.

FAX! (BBC1 1986-88)

Back in the mists of time, before Neighbours had parked itself permanently into the 5.35 slot on BBC1, Fax! was a show that aimed to settle family arguments by answering questions such as why do we drive on the left? Fax!'s main claim to fame, however, is managing to reduce John Noakes to tears when asked about his dear departed dog Shep.

The presenters with all the answers were Bill Oddie (Goodies/birdwatching), cheeky chappy Billy Butler (Radio Merseyside/early Chucklevision) and Wendy Leavesley (?).

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? No, but you'll probably be able to hear a similar concept on your BBC local radio station...

FAST FORWARD (BBC2/1 1984-87)

Sort of successor to Play Away, a children's comedy sketch show with Floella Benjamin, Nick Wilton and others. Regular characters included the alien Milton Keenze from the planet Zymatron, and the explorer Indian Rubber Jones and his sidekick Cheeseplant.

Incidentally, as if you could care less, the 1984 series features my own one and only television appearance, as an eight year old, sitting in the audience.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? No, I'll never be on telly again

FILM FUN (ITV early 1980s)

Well it must have been good, if it got me to switch from BBC1's children's line-up to the other side on Friday afternoons.

Derek Griffiths was the sole star, and the show was basically a chance to see some old Daffy Duck cartoons and the like. Set in an old-style cinema, Griffiths played all the roles - commissionaire, projectionist, usherette etc.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Never in a million years

FINDERS KEEPERS (BBC1 1981-85)

Richard Stilgoe presented this inter-school quiz for the computer age, which was basically a game of battleships.

The theme tune was written and sung by the man himself - hear it here if you dare! Alfa, bravo, charlie, delta, roger and out.!

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Never again

FIRST CLASS (BBC1 1986-88)

Another inter-school quiz for the computer age. The title not necessarily a reference to the quality of the programme, First Class was hosted by Debbie Greenwood (best known for Paul Coia) and a computer called Eugene. Most people will remember it for the keyboard-bashing BBC Micro-stylee arcade games, such as Paperboy, hurdles, and 'spring and vault'; other regular items included the Spinning Gold Disc, hidden behind which would be some current pop stars, no doubt someone like Five Star.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? BBC Micro computer games? Spinning compact discs? I don't think so!

THE FRIDAY FILM SPECIAL (BBC1 1985-89)

For a time, Friday afternoons simply weren't Friday afternoons without a Friday Film Special, courtesy of the Children's Film Foundation. Mostly made throughout the 1970s and early 80s, they already looked dated when shown on CBBC in the late 80s, with all characters sporting long wraparound haircuts, using phrases totally alien to 80s children such as 'hey daddio!', and driving Austin 1800s as getaway cars. But that was their charm.

Many of the films followed a similar theme of the children thwarting the baddies, with action, kidnappings and chases. Good inevitably came out above evil, and there was plenty of moralising, and plugging of the virtues of law and order. Some of the best remembered include:

Sammy's Super T-Shirt (made in 1978): Sammy's favourite T-shirt gets blown through the window of a textile research factory and is returned with super powers, enabling Sammy to run faster than the wind.

4-D Special Agent (1981): a group of children, including the daughter of a policeman, help the local police force to catch a gang of jewel thieves in a riverside warehouse - even though the girl is considered a goody-two-shoes.

Breakout (1984): Two bird-watching boys find a getaway car driven by two escaping convicts - Donny 'the bull', a giant of a man, and his weedy accomplice Keith (right).

Tightrope to Terror (1982): Four children get caught a cable car accident in the Alps.

Cry Wolf (1968): Tony overhears a plot to kidnap the Prime Minister, but no one will believe him, so he turns to his school friends for help. Featured Steptoe and Son's Wilfred Brambell.

Fern the Red Deer (1976): A farmer's son acquires an orphaned girl cousin and an abandoned baby fawn.

Paginini Strikes Again (1973): Three schoolboys get caught up with a gang of robbers and help the local police to catch them. Again.

A Hitch in Time (1978): An eccentric professor (played by Patrick Troughton) is testing a time machine in the ruins of an old castle. He invites two children to become his assistants, with some unexpected results.

Sky Pirates (1976): A radio-controlled model plane belonging to a group of children helps foil diamond smugglers.

There were also a few serials made by the Children's Film Foundation, notably Professor Popper's Problems (BBC1 1984) starring Charlie Drake as the eponymous professor who invented some shrinking pills.

Nostalgia rating:

Will we see it again? Unlikely

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