I don't think anybody will remember my favourite – I am old and it was never mainstream. It was a science-based show called Tom Tom – the introductory music was some fantastic African drumming and the incidental music was more drumming and then again to take the show out. On one occasion the presenter interviewed the drummers, tall African men in robes and round hats and each demonstrated his drum, showing how it could "talk" and thus someone could be a musical drummer. Lots more of interest in the show, including a robot dog called Serendipity which answered questions. And lots of science!
I absolutely loathed blue Peter – in my time it was Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves, and John Noakes who was like an overgrown Boy Scout. It used to kill me when they had a "beat group" on the show (how quaint) because Valerie would make strange stiff movements of her shoulders arms and hands and when she nodded her head, her hair didn't move. They had the Hollies on one time, and they were crap. No doubt she thought she was very with-it ( God I am old). it was too preachy and worthy for me and I liked Magpie much better – also Do Not Adjust Your Set. A young David Jason and most of the cast of Monty Python. Music was by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band which was like Monty Python set to music.
Blue Peter? Strictly for the birds.