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My top 5 seventies kids shows - part 1

I'm feeling a bit low today, so it's time for me to 'walk the walk' in terms of the wellbeing strategies that I advocate in my (unpublished) manuscript. In it, I describe my own 'five ways to wellbeing', one of which is 'being nostalgic'. Without going into too much detail here, as I am hoping that you will eventually have the chance to buy the book, I discuss being nostalgic as being an aspect of 'terror management theory', which is the active engagement with ideas that distract us from thoughts of our eventual death; nostalgia does that by connecting us with a younger, often happier, version of ourselves.

So, for today's post, I am going to get really nostalgic and watch an episode from each of my top five television programmes from my early childhood.  For this, we are going back to the greatest decade for children's TV, the seventies.

Let's do this as a proper 'top of the pops' style countdown. We won't dwell too much on that particular show, though, as most editions from that decade have become a little bit problematic with the passing of time, presenter-wise!

Number 5 - Bagpuss

Episode watched 'The Elephant' (1974)

https://youtu.be/o20cKD-NJD8?si=O3ksmcHZJqoAHWou

What an intro! I can remember it almost word for word, despite not having watched it for decades. You did not watch this for the plot, as the same thing happened pretty much every week; you watched it for the repetition, the familiarity of the characters, music and voices. Each episode becomes a tone poem, creating an almost hypnotic effect on the viewers. This episode was about an elephant who lost its ears, but it was about more than that; it was about caring for others, acceptance of difference, and teamwork.

Number 4 - Bod

Episode watched 'Bod's Present' (1975)

https://youtu.be/7Fv23hw7AFc?si=m1o1aoaxtnvTrFNJ

Another great theme and ASMR-inducing voiceover, this time from John Le Mesurier. Simple cut-out cartoon animation for Bod, rather than the stop motion of Bagpuss. The story is not exactly action-packed, but I suspect that was part of the plan. Not quite a bedtime story, but it's close. Again, it's more about the familiar characters. Although the show is called 'Bod', it contains more than one part; the second one is almost interactive in its presentation, quite forward thinking for the seventies, focused on call and response with the audience watching at home. The third part was my favourite as it involved Alberto Frog and his Amazing Animal band. Again, there is a real thread of poetry and music running through the show.

I think that, of the two shows, Bod has dated more than Bagpuss. I wouldn't show Bod to children nowadays, but I think that Bagpuss could be revived for the current generation, as the tone, design and morals of the show could really be popular.

Tune in later this week for my top three. In the meantime, try and guess what they are going to be!

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