I'm going to do something rare and talk about live action on a blog normally reserved for anime and cartoons but since I want to try some new things lets look at some live action shows from my childhood. Keep in mind this is the British List, there is a seperate list for Nickelodeon and other related channels with live action shows, this is just the British part of the list.
Honorable Mention
The Worst Witch: Sitcom about a Witches Academy that long predates Harry Potter, the titular Worst Witch is Mildred Hubble a witch-in-training with more than a little bit of bad luck in her school time. Left off the list because it's being remade.
10. Rosie & Jim
This is a young kids show about two ragdolls that come to life and explore the world on the British canals with the owner of the Narrowboat as they come across places of interest and learn about the interesting little crafting areas and hidden gems of the British Isles along the canals of the long forgotten Industrial Revolution. The show has iconic status from the quacking duck ornament ontop of the Narrowboat.
9. Bernard's Watch
Sitcom about a boy who acquires a Magic Pocket Watch that can stop time of which he uses to solve problems, it was a very creative series but suffered from an unpopular remake.
8. Spatz
While the life and times of a burger restaurant seems like a recipe for a bad Spongebob ripoff, this sitcom looks at the original concept of the fastfood restaurant which was intended to be a delicacy for the rich and wealthy hence the title sequence, so give them credit for being different but it's still an entertaining little show.
7. Woof!
Sitcom about a boy who shapeshifts into a dog, very much the same type of show as Bernard's Watch, situation resolved by the powers the user possess but Woof at least tried to make it a bit more interesting.
6. Finders Keepers
A kids Gameshow where you tear apart a large studio house in pursuit of certain items to claim big prizes, me and my sister always said we could do a better job than the contestents.
5. Fun House
Similar to Finders Keepers instead ten times messier, ten times the mullet (Long story) and featured Go-Karts. This was the ultimate kids amusement park experience; may have inspired the creation of the adult ball pit. (Britain has a Ball Pit Bar in London strictly for adults, keep in mind Fun House is nearly 30 years old)
4. Rainbow
How can I not write a list like this and not include Rainbow, it's part of British TV History. The antics of the three puppets Zippy, George and Bungle in a house owned by presenter Geoffrey (Not the 1st presenter) as they did various activities. It ran for over a 1000 episodes, a rarity for a show of it's type in Britain and has cult status alongside the likes of Wallace and Gromit. Random Fact: Zippy & George share their voices with Doctor Who's Daleks.
3. The Sooty Show
The misadventures of a mute mischeivous puppet named Sooty who along with a dog named Sweep and a panda named Soo often indulges in slapstick by spraying his owner with a water pistol and using Magic Tricks for more slapstick, it's been a staple of British TV since the 50s and very little has changed apart from Sooty's owner.
2. ZZZap!
Billed as the television comic, ZZZap! has a showcase of comical showcases and creative works.
Cuthbert Lilly was a clumsy man which I dub Mr Bean Lite.
Smart Arty was an artist done in stereotypical French style but actually did some creative art pieces.
Tricky Dicky was a prankster with a spy style look.
Daisy Dares was someone who challenged kids to a dare often involving swimming pools and messy gunge.
Minnie the Mini Magician I didn't remember very well, but I guess she did magic tricks.
The Handymen were a pair of hands who did little clever crafts and tricks for an audience, despite being called Handymen the hands belonged to a woman.
1. Knightmare
Before World of Warcraft turned the fantasy gaming world into a realm of mediocrity we had Knightmare. A combination of Dungeons and Dragons Roleplaying thinking set on a mixture of video game and live action as you guide a player wearing a helmet that makes them blind. The object of the game was to complete the quest without dying. Easier said than done but it was fun to watch kids try especially when they had to command the blind player.
