Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid?
For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s.
Drama was screened at 5.10pm afterJohn Cravens Newsround.
The BBC usedBlue Peteralong withSwap Shopand laterSaturday SuperstoreandGoing Liveto promote their new drama series.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, ITV promoted its shows in the magazineLook-In(1971-94).
The BBC, by way of a belated response, licenced Polystyle to produceBEEBmagazine.
It lasted just 20 issues in 1985.
By contrast, BBC Magazines launchedFast Forwardin 1989, utilising the 5.35pm junction betweenChildrens BBCandNeighboursto advertise it.
So successful was the magazine, it outsold and eventually spelt the death knell forLook-In.
however,Fast Forwarditself succumbed to falling circulation just eighteen months later in 1995.
In 1981 ITV created a new strand calledWatch It!intended to better link their childrens output.
ITV slowly began to win the pre-5pm ratings war.
HTV continued to be a major player in childrens programming.
At TVS she initiatedDramarama.
The story was given a hauntingly claustrophobic atmosphere by experienced director Marilyn Fox.
Echoes Of Louisawas a six part ghost story come mystery made by ATV.
It soon transpires Allie Barr resembles Allegra and their lives are somehow linked across the years.
Louisa sees her companion as a do-gooder who harbours evil intentions to get rid of her at any cost.
This in turn has a devastating affect on the life of Eighties teenager Allie.
A year later, BBC2 dramatised Garfields equally powerfulThe Ghost Downstairs.
The technique was beloved by erstwhileDoctor Whoproducer Barry Letts, not least for its economic advantages.
A teenage girl Tess (Judith Allchurch) experiences the womans memories which eventually become too real for comfort.
The series proper would also develop a good catalogue of ghost stories.
A pre-EastEndersAnna Wing and Adam Woodyatt featured in this light drama about time-travelling witches.
She gives the weird looking artefact to her elderly father as a potential ornament for his rockery.
Suddenly, a frightened and unusual looking child is seen around the town.
Meanwhile another ordinarily timid boy starts to act strangely and seems keen to perform a rustic folk dance.
Chocky, based on John Wyndhams final novel completed in 1968, was broadcast on ITV in early 1984.
The adaptation updates the 1968 story.
Eventually Chocky feels able to show herself to Matthew and explain her environmentally sound reasoning for possessing his mind.
Adapted by erstwhileDoctor Whoscript editor Anthony Read and produced by Thames.Chockyproved very popular with its young audience.
There were two sequels:Chockys Children(ITV 1985) andChockys Challenge(ITV 1986).
The serial is exceptionally well cast and the acting talent really give it their all.
Robert Stephens is terrific as the theatrical villain of the piece Abner Brown.
Devin Stanfield acquits himself very well as the constantly surprised, adventure-seeking Kay Harker.
Stanfield practically carries the middle section of the serial and overcomes Patrick Troughtons scripted absence.
As cutting-edge technology goes, it is inevitable the series would become dated over time.
Parts of it still stand up well, other parts not so much to modern day viewing.
There are perhaps just too many moments of wonder.
Director Renny Rye, a formerBlue Peterman was behind the camera.
At one time Stone was sought after as a potential future producer ofDoctor Who.
Edward Barnes described the show at its launch as a feast.
A rather worthy version of J.Meade FalknersMoonfleetin February 1984 had been the last adapted drama to air beforeBox.
