We all remember those golden days of hitting the sofa after school and watching kids' TV while we waited for tea (or dinner/supper) to be cooked. And then heading straight back after said tea (dinner/supper) to cram in a bit more before the adults took over the box.
And, as we get older, those feelings of nostalgia seem to become all the more strong. So it's time to take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the TV shows that we enjoyed as youngsters.
By 'we', we're talking about those of us who were somewhere between, say, age 10 and 13 in the early-to-mid-90s, or thereabouts. These are the shows that the slightly older kids enjoyed after school.
Everyone has their own memories, but here are some that many will no doubt have fond recollections of...
Byker Grove
Starting in 1989, B-b-b-Byker Grove actually ran right up until 2006. But it's those early years that many of us will have happy memories of. And, of course, the show launched the careers of Ant and Dec, Jill Halfpenny, Donna Air, Charlie Hunnam and more.
It had a proper memorable theme tune, too.
Grange Hill
Now, everyone will have different memories of this one, given that the pupils of Grange Hill first appeared on TV screens in 1978. But for mid-1990s kids as much as anyone, this was staple viewing.
The 'classic' theme tune had been replaced by a snazzy new one that I bet you can still recall today. And there aren't many TV shows of any kind that can claim TWO earworm theme tunes. If you don't remember it (you do, though), here it is...
Round the Twist
Talking of memorable theme tunes... this is right up there. "Have you ever, ever felt like this, when strange things happen..." You know what we're talking about. This show had it all. Supernatural weirdness. Comedy. Aussies. A lighthouse.
It is an absolute icon. It first appeared in 1990 and 1992 before coming back again in 2000 and 2001.
Art Attack
This one's actually still going on the Disney Junior channel, apparently, but obviously there's only one Original Gangster and that's Mr Neil Buchanan, who hosted the show on CITV from 1990 right through to 2007.
He also created, wrote and produced the programme. No doubt it was responsible for messy kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms across the land.
The Demon Headmaster
So many now-adults are still having nightmares about this one. Based on the books by Gillian Cross, none of us who were watching after school TV between 1996 and 1998 will ever forget THAT LOOK.
ChuckleVision
This long-running staple of silliness will hold great memories for many, many, people. A whopping 292 episodes were made between 1987 and 2009. As well as another highly memorable theme tune, the brothers Chuckle left us with a series of catchphrases.
To this day, is it even possible to carry a large object with another person without saying "to me, to you"? We suggest not.
Knightmare
Another one that might bring back some scary memories. Running from 1987 to 1994, Knightmare was truly ahead of its time, transporting young contestants into a Medieval virtual reality environment, as they completed a quest as a team.
Who had the VHS-based board game to play at home? Innovative stuff for its time.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Time to head across the pond now as we look at a few from our American cousins. And where else to start except for the show that launched the career of Oscar-slapper-in-chief himself, Will Smith?
Another theme tune that we all know ALL of the words to, the show, which ran from 1990 to 1996, also gave us memorable characters Carlton, Geoffrey, Hilary, Ashley and Uncle Phil. Extra points if you know the words to the verse that didn't (usually) feature on the TV version.
However, for your pleasure, here's the full thing...
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
OK, tough shout between this and Melissa Joan Hart's earlier work explaining it all, but this hits the mid-90s teenage TV show nail squarely on the head. A strong supernatural flavour to this one, complete with talking cat.
Even though MJH was already 20 in 1996, this one eventually ran to no fewer than 163 episodes between then and 2003, not to mention three spin-off films.
Kenan and Kel
Who loves orange soda? Not many of us, but Kel certainly did. This buddy comedy ran from 1996 to 2000 and focused on the misadventures of the titular duo.
With a theme song performed by none other than Coolio, this was the business for anyone who managed to persuade their parents that getting Sky so we could watch Nickelodeon was VERY important.
Sister Sister
Another Nickelodeon favourite, this one featured real-life twins Tia and Tamera Mowry playing fictional versions of themselves. Having been separated at birth, they are reunited as teenagers and hilarity ensues.
This one ran between 1994 and 1999 and aired 116 episodes.
