Disturbing kid's TV programs

[Floogal]

I remember growing up and seeing unpleasant shows on CBBC and CITV during the 80s and 90s that looking back were pretty heavy going, especially for kids.

Ones I remember we're children's ward. Especially when the girl (who ended up playing Maria in coronation Street) died.
Also this one called Dramarama with one off stories. I remember this particular episode about a boy who steals a rabbit and his dad thrashes him with a belt.
And this drama called the secret set partly in Eastbourne where these kids mum goes missing.

Wasn't Tina Turner in that show playing Zelda?

@TyrannysaurusXXrightshoarder

Hartley Hare from Pipkins. Terrifying.

grin

Five children and it.

The only thing I can remember scaring me was an episode of Dr Who and the denial companion (I think she was American) has feathers coming out of her skin. It was either Colin Baker or Sylvester McCoy

Are you afraid of the dark

There's a couple of books written about all this stuff which are really good. I think they're called Scarred for Life Vol 1 (1970s); Vol 2 (the 80s). Think they cover public information films as well as regular children's programmes. I remember the fireworks public info film with scenes of horrifically burned kids and which my dad always made us watch then asked 'do you want fireworks or the money instead?' 😂

www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/scarred-for-life-how-the-pop-culture-of-the-1970s-had-such-a-lasting-effect-on-children-a7757446.html

This explains why we grew up with nightmares.
My dc's have never had one, more appropriate telly these days.

Regarding Hartley hare and the original bungle from Rainbow 😬. Both petrifying to look at admittedly. But hares and bears are scary animals anyway

@Pythonista

OMG just remembered The Nightmare Man - only thing I remember was the titles - the background was red and there was the sound of someone breathing!

And Hanging by a Thread - stayed with me for many years

This absolutely terrified me and still creeps me out. My parents used to watch it and I remember being scared and coming down and they’d hide me under a cushion for the murderous bits. So I would hear it all. I watched the entire series on YouTube to try to overcome my fear…nope.

My best friend is properly traumatized by Dizzy Heights Hotel

Same, those puppets were terrifying.

@foxgoosefinch

I was very freaked out by the stories they used to show us in school as part of “Look and Read” - anyone remember “Dark Tower”?

Come with me, yes come with me, to Dark Tower

The Dark Is Rising.

@CeeceeBloomingdale that Numbertaker is so scary as an adult!

[quote PaulaTrilloe]@CeeceeBloomingdale that Numbertaker is so scary as an adult![/quote]
Very true!

Did anyone not love being scared though? I loved watching spooky things even though I knew I wouldn't get to sleep later. I still do this as a 46 year old.

tenor.com/view/numbertaker-gif-20629384

Chocky

This was my reading scheme when I was five or six. I loved it though.

I remember this one being particularly terrifying though.

@Floogal I'm curious about the programme set in Eastbourne when was it on? Was it called the Secret?

I remember a series where a family move into a village with no children. The credits had a green man face I think. Never been able to find it online.

[quote PaulaTrilloe]@Floogal I'm curious about the programme set in Eastbourne when was it on? Was it called the Secret?[/quote]
Around late 80s or 1990. I'm pretty sure it was called the secret. Basically this brother and sisters mum goes to eastbourne and gets mugged and doesn't come home. But they pretend she's still there so they don't get taken into care. Then they go to eastbourne and find her in the hospital (I think, was years since I last saw it). Bit heavy going.

@HarebrightCedarmoon
I loved these books !

@Floogal ooh I will have to do a bit of digging. My mum lives in Eastbourne I always thought it was a bit of a dull place!

My mum went missing from Eastbourne once but that's another story

@bridgeofslides

Tottie is an animation of the book The Doll's House by Rummer Godden. It's about a mismatched family of dolls in I guess early 20th century. Birdie is made from celluloid and was very flammable. She catches light in an accident caused by Marchpane the mean doll. It's a family favourite in my family. I read the book to the dds recently they loved it. I guess it didn't creep me as I knew the story so well anyway. The dds thought it was a powerful book and they talk about it when they see dolls in museums.

It was one of my favourite books. Never seen the tv show though!