Muffin or Bagpuss? It's time to vote for your favourite TV character
FOR millions, the very sight of Bagpuss is enough to conjure up memories of a golden childhood.
But is the saggy old cloth cat really the nation’s favourite?
In a week when Britain went to the polls, it’s the only election that really matters: the search for the best-loved children’s TV character of all-time.
Radio Times has unveiled a list of what it thinks are the 50 front runners, compiled with the British Film Institute.
Those of a certain age might plump for Muffin The Mule, Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben, The Magic Roundabout, The Clangers or Mr Benn.
Nothing dates us more reliably than naming those children’s characters who first seized our imagination
Younger viewers might cast a vote for Bob The Builder, In The Night Garden or Shaun the Sheep.
Radio Times editor Ben Preston said: “It’s the easiest way to guess a person’s age.
"Nothing dates us more reliably than naming those children’s characters who first seized our imagination.”
The early favourites are Bagpuss and Mr Benn.
Incredibly, just 13 episodes of Bagpuss were made, but children across the country were captivated as Emily brought broken items back to her shop and left them in front of her sleepy stuffed cat.
Suddenly, he would wake up, his friends would come to life and the object would be magically fixed.
Meanwhile, each week millions tuned in as Mr Benn left his home to visit a fancy dress shop.
He would try an outfit, step through a magic door and find himself in a world that matched the clothes.
To vote in the poll, which closes on June 30, visit radiotimes.com/childrenspoll.
TOP 50 TV CHARACTERS
1950s
Andy Pandy
Noddy
Muffin The Mule
Bill And Ben
Sooty And Sweep
The Woodentops
Captain Pugwash
Pinky And Perky
Noggin The Nog
1960s
Basil Brush
Humpty
Pogles’ Wood
The Magic Roundabout
Camberwick Green
The Herbs
Trumpton
Chigley
1970s
Mr Benn
Roobarb And Custard
The Wombles
Bagpuss
Ivor The Engine
Paddington Bear
Emu
Morph
1980s
Postman Pat
Willo The Wisp
Gordon The Gopher
Pingu
Spot The Dog
Fireman Sam
Edd The Duck
Bodger & Badger
1990s
Brum
Otis The Aardvark
Dennis The Menace And Gnasher
Teletubbies
Bob The Builder
Tweenies
2000s
Charlie And Lola
Shaun The Sheep
Oucho
In The Night Garden
Hacker T Dog/Dodge T Dog
Octonauts
Abney And Teal
Rastamouse
Tree Fu Tom
Sarah And Duck
Strange Hill High