TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
After the 'toddler's truce' was broken by both the BBC and ITV in 1957 it was time
to look again at the output of children's programming on the BBC and the idea of
a magazine show was proposed. Initially a fifteen minute show it would extend to
a half-
It showed children how to make their own toys, rather than bothering their parents for expensive alternatives, while involving children in social activities like the annual appeal where they would ask for used postage stamps or milk bottle tops, and in return the money raised would go towards a nominated charity.
The show felt that it was always targeting the more middle-
Watching the show sometimes made you feel like you were back at school again, but
there would be the odd pop act, and like so many shows from the British pop boom
era they would play host to the likes of The Hollies, The Searchers, Freddie & The
Dreamers etc and on one occasion The Bonzo Dog Doo-
Easily the longest running children's show on British TV they recently awarded Paul McCartney their most coveted award, the gold Blue Peter badge.
BLUE PETER
BBC / BBC1 / CBBC
16th October 1958 -