Does anyone remember this kids tv show from the 80's as no one else I have ever asked does

[Witchofzog]

It was called Running Scared and it had Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush as the opening credit music. It was about a girl with red hair who's dad was a taxi driver and there was a bad guy played by Chris Ellison from the Bill. I googled it for years and never found anything but ironically I have found something on Wiki today, but even so, no one I know has ever seen it. Has anyone on here seen it? It scared thr heebie jeebies out of me when I was 9 (though it didn't stop me developing a crush on Chris Ellison when he was Burnside in the Bill )

YY to Running Scared, excellent programme. And I also remember Seaview. I loved Johnny Briggs with the immortal “my mam, who’s a nurse” which DH and I often quote!

I remember The Tripods!

THANK YOU!! Loved this!!

I remember Break in the Sun - really got under my skin.

I was terrified of the tripods

I loved all of these, especially The Cuckoo Sister. I remember Phillip Schofield holding up the book in the broom cupboard and I was desperate to get my hands on a copy.

I went with my mum to the local WHSmith to ask for it where the lady looked at me with a head tilt, said they didn't have that book and asked me if I was sure I had the correct title as they had another book called the Cuckoo Tree (or something).

I eventually found a copy of the Cuckoo Sister on holiday I think.

Running Scared and Break in the Sun were both based on books by the children’s author, Bernard Ashley.

I can’t believe no ones mentioned the Children of Green Knowe yet! I still can’t hear the sound of a peacock without getting chills

I used to have the book Running Scared but have lost it at some point. I've got Chocky and Mondial though! John Wyndham is one of my favourite ever authors - most of his books are written for adults but v accessible for teenagers. I tried to persuade ds to read Chocky but he didn't like it. He never wants to read my suggestions :-(

Queen I absolutely love The Children of Green Knowe but I didn't find it creepy, did you? I know it involved ghosts but they were kind and friendly towards Tolly, I never felt it was sinister at all.

Box of Delights was the best one!

Was Running Scared the one where the dad was under police protection as he was a witness and the younger sister was kidnapped to stop him from testifying? I remember finding it very frightening.

I remember Seaview too-mostly the end of one where the girl got slapped around the face. I think I refused to watch it after that.

I remember it. It is rare to find others that remember it for some reason. I loved it. Chris Ellison was proper scary in it. Didn't it all eventually hinge on a broken pair of glasses that was the key bit of evidence?

Tripods were terrifying! And I loved Johnny Briggs. I miss kids tv

Yes that was Running Scared Witchend.

I loved the Box of Delights too. I've got the dvd, and watching it as an adult, it's really striking how they didn't update the language of the book at all, I just can't imagine something like that being made for kids' TV nowadays (maybe I'm wrong). The special effects were pretty good for the 80s as well!!

DD just started reading my old John Wyndam books a couple of weeks ago, I think I have most of them. Chocky was my favourite show as a child, I lived for it.

Oh I loved Running scared! I still think of it whenever I hear ‘running up that hill’ by Kate bush so it clearly made an impression! My first thought when I read the op was ‘the bins’ - his glasses! . I’m 41.

I also loved the cuckoo sister and read the book too. About a stolen child coming back to her family. I remember it being v emotional.

Moon dial and green knowe were brilliant too. I watched an episode or two of green knowe on YouTube last year for nostalgia!

What about Moonfleet??! I used to love that as well. It's all coming back to me now!

I watch the Box of Delights every Christmas. It has the best word in it...Scrobbled!! (Kidnapped). It has occurred to me recently though, how the parents don't really seem to know or care their child has been kidnapped!

I've just rtft and realised that I've just repeated everyone else

I loved Break in the Sun too. I am from Yorkshire and was convinced that Margate must actually be Morcombe. I have no idea why.

I loved Johnny Briggs too I used to leg it home for that and Stig of the Dump.

I also loved the Swish of the Curtain that had a v young Sarah Greene of Blue Peter fame in. About a group of young actors taking over a disused theatre. I found the novel it was based on a few years back and bought it.

Yes me and my mum watched running scared but I must have been around 10 and don’t remember much but the theme song.

Some great dramas mentioned here. Why aren’t these shown on one of the ‘yesterday’ channels!

I’ve been trying to figure out what break in the sun was for donkeys years!!!
Didn’t remember anything about it except the girl who was in it and that it was set by the seaside.
I’m going to look it up on YouTube now

Spudina I think the parents were away somewhere and the children were being looked after by a governess (who was conveniently scrobbled leaving them at the mercy of Abner and his gang!!)

Oh yes your right! Nearly time to get it out again!

I am so happy to find out that Break In The Sun is on YouTube - thanks for letting us know! I loved that programme and read loads of Bernard Ashley books after watching it. He never seems to be mentioned these days.

Also remember the Choky programmes and yes, Jonny Briggs!

I remember it well. My first thought was ‘bins’ too.