To ask if anyone over 40 remembers this weird segment on some TV show with Esther Rantzen?

[FortunesFave]

I THINK it was Esther. It might have been "That's Life". So sometime in the 80s? They used to set kids up and trick them into thinking teapots and other non sentient things were speaking to them. They'd film the kids interacting with the objects...but the kids thought they were alone.

I'm certain that it was morally problematic but I thought it was hilarious as a kid.

Anyone?

Yes, I remember that! I don't think it was That's Life, though. Was it 'The Late, Late Breakfast Show'?

Don't remember that but remember the dogs "speaking" and the rude vegetables.

... there was a brilliant one where as soon as the toy started speaking, a clever child immediately lifted the rug or whatever it was and identified a cable attached to the toy.

Noel's House Party did this.

Think it was Jeremy Beadle

I'm under 40 but I definitely remember Noel's House Party doing this in the 90s. That said it may not have been the only show to do so. I hope that you find your answer.

Thinking about it I agree it was probably Noel, it was a bearded bloke anyway!

You can see a clip of it here.