TV shows every ’80s and ’90s child used to watch

More often than not, it was raining and we had to entertain ourselves, thankfully the television was there to help get us through those times

Saved By The Bell

Saved by the Bell is a nostalgic classic. Pictured, from left, are Mario Lopez as Albert Clifford ‘A.C.’ Slater, Dennis Haskins as Mr Richard Belding, Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle, Tiffani Thiessen as Kelly Kapowski, Elizabeth Berkley as Jessie Spano, Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Zachary ‘Zach’ Morris, Dustin Diamond as Screech Powers

Initially starting out in 1988 as Good Morning, Miss Bliss, the show was rebranded and new characters were added, becoming Saved By The Bell in 1989. The show follows the students at Bayside High School, in Los Angeles.

Whilst mainly a comedy following Zack Morris and his friends, later episodes would come to tackle drug use, drunk driving, homelessness and environmental issues.

The show ran until 1993, and a spin-off series and TV movies were made following Zack and friends through The College Years. More recently there was a 2020 reboot.

Screech star Dustin Diamond sadly died from stage four small cell carcinoma of the lungs in February 2021

California Dreams

California Dreams was another Peter Engel show, very much in the same vein as Saved By Yhe Bell. Just like Pugwall and Saved By The Bell, this show was aired in the UK as part of Channel 4’s The Bigger Breakfast brand during the school holidays.

The show ran for five seasons from 1992 until 1996 and featured the exploits of the California Dreams band and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager during these times.

Most of the cast have appeared in TV roles since the show ended. With Jay Anthony Franke (Jake Sommers) now living in Australia, the cast reunited back in 2010 as part of a Late Night With Jimmy Fallon episode.

The Monkees

Originally running from 1966 until 1968, The Monkees followed the adventures of the titular band as they try to make it big as a rock ‘n’ roll band.

The band, featuring Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones, captured the hearts of viewers, and the TV show gained a bigger cult following during repeats in the ’80s and ’90s.

When people reminisce about their school holidays, most remember the amazing summers they would have getting out and about in the sunshine. However, if the weather wasn’t the best – which, let’s face it, happened a lot in Wales – there were also some amazing TV shows that would keep us entertained until the sun came out again.

Here we’ve put together a list of some of the best kids’ school holidays shows from the past – from ’90s classics to even older shows a decade before that still managed to get a dedicated following years after their first run. If there are any favourites we missed then please comment below as we would love to know what you watched and loved as well.

Huckleberry Finn and his Friends

This adaptation of the Mark Twain novels brought The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn into one story.

Starring Ian Tracey as the titular character along with Sam Snyders as Tom Sawyer, the show ran for 26 episodes and was first screened in the UK on BBC One in 1982. It felt like it was repeated every year after!

Canadian Ian Tracey has been a regular in TV roles and films over the years, last being seen in Bates Motel. Sam Snyders – also from Canada – left acting behind and is now a dance teacher.

Why Don’t You?

To give the show its full name, Why Don’t You, Switch Off Your TV and Do Something Less Boring Instead?, was the arts and crafts show that started it all for various big-name TV personalities and actors such as Ant McPartlin and Alexandra Fletcher, star of Brookside and now Hollyoaks.

The show started way back in 1973 and throughout its 22-year run, opened up regional ‘gangs’ which were given the spotlight and broadcast nationwide.

Throughout its ’80s and ’90s run, the mainstay presenter was Cardiff’s very own Ben Slade, along with writer/producer Russell T. Davies who introduced storylines into the show and saw the audience grow from 0.9 million to 2.9 million.

Now a household name, Russell T. Davies has gone back to Doctor Who along with recently writing the award-winning It’s A Sin. Slade was recently the CEO of SkillForce which closed in 2019 due to the impact of Brexit.

The Littlest Hobo

The Littlest Hobo was another Canadian TV show that always seemed to be repeated during all of the school holidays throughout the ’80s.

The show was all about an intelligent German Shepherd stray, whose destiny was to help those who were in need.

The show was a massive success and saw two runs, the first of which ran from 1963 until 1965, and then again from 1979 up to 1985.

Pugwall/Pugwall’s Summer

Pugwall was an Australian children’s show that was based on Margaret Clark’s novels.

On his 13th birthday, Peter Unwin George Wall, the titular Pugwall, receives an electric guitar and forms a band – The Orange Organics. Each episode revolves around the band trying to make it big.

The show was initially shown on Channel 4 as part of its The Bigger Breakfast during the early ’90s.

Jason Torrens, who played Pugwall, continued acting and appeared in Neighbours in 1996 and, from 1997, he focused on music and is currently the owner of Debasement Recording Studios.

Eerie, Indiana

This 1991 show saw Marshall Teller move to the town of Eerie, Indiana, with his family, only to discover that everything is not as it seems. Along with friend Simon Holmes, they face strange occurrences such as Bigfoot and a still-alive Elvis Presley.

The show only lasted for one season of 19 episodes, which spawned a spin-off with Eerie, Indiana – The Other Dimension in 1998. The original was shown during Channel 4’s Ther Bigger Breakfast.

Marshall Teller was played by Omri Haim Katz who went on to play Max Dennison in Hocus Pocus, and also portrayed the on-screen son of J.R. Ewing and Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas. He has now retired from acting.

Boy Meets World

Boy Meets World chronicles the coming of age story of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage. Along with his family and school life, the show also highlights the influence of his friends, the blossoming relationship with Topanga Lawrence, played by Danielle Fishel and most notably his teacher Mr Feeny, played by William Daniels.

The show initially ran from 1993 until 2000, and like Saved By The Bell, is now the subject of a spin-off/reboot with Girl Meets World and centres on the life of Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley Matthews.

Out Of This World

Out Of This World was broadcast over four seasons on ITV from 1990 until 1995. Although the show debuted in the US in 1987.

The show was all about Evie Ethel Garland – who on her 13th birthday and finds out that her father Troy is an alien, voiced by Burt Reynolds. The show concentrates on Evie getting to grips with her new superhuman powers, such as the ability to stop time.

While most famous for her role as Evie, Maureen Flannigan has acted in various roles over the years including stints on 90210 and a main starring role in 1998’s Push which was cancelled after three episodes.