The beloved shows from your childhood that would never be allowed to air today - as Horrible Histories axes episodes that show child labour

Long before Netflix and TikTok, young people were entertained by the unfiltered sketches and unique storylines on much-loved shows such as Rainbow, Today Is Saturday: Watch And Smile and Children Of The Stones.By the 1980s, when most families had one or two colour televisions, viewing figures could dwarf those seen today for similar shows, with as many as eight million youngsters regularly tuning in to peak-time children shows.However, many of these beloved programmes would be unlikely to appear now due to their exaggerated stereotypes and dated humour.Updated broadcast guidelines on child-friendly content and ethical audience participation have already dramatically changed the landscape in this decade alone.This month, popular BBC children's comedy Horrible Histories became the latest programme to be affected – with an episode that featured slavery, chimney sweeps and Victorian child workers removed.The corporation has also edited out several sketches from various other episodes, including a spoof craft show in which Madame Tussaud makes wax death masks from severed heads.Today's TV bosses would no doubt be horrified by the humiliating nature of popular BBC variety show Crackerjack! which left tearful young children clutching wet cabbage as a form of Friday afternoon entertainment.Read on to reminisce over the nostalgic children's programmes you loved and miss – and which ones would quickly be cancelled if they aired today...Rainbow Many viewers were left astounded by clips of the children's television show Rainbow, which ran for 20 years, after the death of Zippy puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew earlier this year Created by Pamela Lonsdale, the show was designed to be the British equivalent of Sesame Street and help youngsters develop their language, social and number skillsMany viewers were left astounded by nostalgic clips of the children's television show Rainbow, which ran for 20 years, following the death of Zippy puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew earlier this year.Initially created by Pamela Lonsdale, the show was designed to be the British equivalent of Sesame Street and help youngsters develop their language, social and number skills.Set in a 'Rainbow House', human caretakers and puppet characters lived together and faced day-to-day situations and tasks.However, modern-day viewing of the programme presents a slightly less PC perspective.One viral skit went viral showing George, the gentle hippo, announcing: 'Yesterday we played with each other's balls. Are we going to play with our friend's balls today?'To which Bungle replies: 'Yes, and we can play with our twangers as well.'While many remarked that they hadn't picked up on the double entendres in childhood, the episode in fact didn't make it to air.Instead, the scenes were filmed for a 'Christmas Tape' – a TV tradition in the Seventies that would see outtakes, bloopers and specially shot material put together to be watched at the work Christmas party.Today Is Saturday: Watch And Smile (Tiswas)Launched in 1974, Today Is Saturday: Watch And Smile was a children's television show hosted by Chris Tarrant, Sally James, Lenny Henry, Bob Carolgees, Jon Gorman and Peter Tomlinson The show regularly featured live studio mayhem alongside sketches, musical guests and audience competitionsLaunched by ITV in 1974, Today Is Saturday: Watch And Smile (Tiswas) was a famous children's television show hosted by Chris Tarrant, Sally James, Lenny Henry, Bob Carolgees, Jon Gorman and Peter Tomlinson.Trading traditional scripted television for slapstick comedy, Tiswas regularly featured live studio mayhem alongside sketches, musical guests and audience competitions.However, the most controversial aspect of the show would be the 'cage' segment, which saw a child in the audience locked up and periodically doused in the likes of water, baked beans and custard.The 100th episode even saw 100 fans lining a racetrack while a fire engine hosed children down.At its height, Tiswas peaked at 4.7million viewers and was seen as a revolutionary programme for its experimental nature.But in line with modern regulation rules around health and safety and ethical treatment of children live on air, the show would certainly be forbidden from hitting our screens now.Even Chris Tarrant himself acknowledged that Tiswas would be unable to air in the modern day, telling the Mirror in 2022: 'We pelted people in a cage with water, there were smoke bombs going off, kids slipping everywhere.'There's no way we'd be able to do that now.'The Magic Roundabout The Magic Roundabout followed the adventures of dog Dougal and friends in a magical garden but the show was was accused of making several references to drug useFirst airing in 1965, The Magic Roundabout followed the adventures of dog Dougal and friends in a magical garden.The stop-motion animated classic used footage from the French show Le Manège enchanté but with different scripts and characters.However, the series – which ran on the BBC for 12 years – was accused of making several references to drug use.Dougal, who had an addiction to sugar cubes, famously claimed: 'It starts with some sweets... and then you're on two bags a day.'One episode also saw the dog attend a party where he spoke with a banana and a pear – only to have no memory of it the next day.His best friend Dylan, a rabbit who plays guitar and sleeps a lot, was said to be parodying a stoner.Ermintrude the cow was seen chewing on a flower that resembled an opiate poppy.Serge Danot, who created Le Manège enchanté, denied that it was a take on drug culture, with his widow Martine later exclaiming: 'On drugs? No, absolutely not.'They were all sweet characters created entirely for children, Of course, they were products of their age, the 1960s, but drugs? No. 'Maybe that's the way you saw it in Britain, but I can assure you that here in France nobody thinks or thought that.'British actor and scriptwriter Eric Thompson, who was responsible for adapting the French show, also denied the claims.Grange Hill Grange Hill, which tackled bullying, racism and drug abuse among teenagers, is the country's favourite children's television programme lost to our screensFor everyone over the age of 40, the distinct theme tune – and that sausage on a fork – is enough to bring a wave of nostalgia for the greatest ‘lost’ TV show of their youth.Set in a comprehensive school in inner-city London, Grange Hill tackled a number of hard-hitting topics and was instrumental in addressing substance abuse amongst youngsters, delivering the campaign: 'Just Say No'.The show – which featured such unforgettable characters as Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins, Zammo McGuire and Roland ‘Roly’ Browning – was a must-watch for anyone who remembers its 30-year stint on our screens.And according to a recent poll by Perspectus Global in May, the show, which tackled bullying, racism and drug abuse among teenagers, is the country's favourite children's television programme lost to our screens.However, the content tackled in Grange Hill would likely make it unable to air pre-watershed – given the material would be deemed as unsuitable for a family audience.Indeed, streaming service Britbox gave the popular children's drama a racist and offensive language warning in 2021 due to the more adult dialogue included in the children's programme.Children Of The Stones Children Of The Stones followed scientist Adam Brake and his son Matthew as they arrive in the sleepy English village of Milbury to find it under the grip of weird psychic powersDespite being designed for kids, the 1977 series Children Of The Stones was terrifying enough that it creeped out many adults. The series followed scientist Adam Brake (Gareth Thomas) and his son Matthew (Peter Demin) who arrive in the sleepy English village of Milbury to find it under the grip of weird psychic powers unleashed by the sinister village squire, Hendrick, and whose power they struggle to break.In 2012, comedian Stewart Lee narrated a documentary on the series for BBC Radio Four, introducing it as 'the scariest programme ever made for children'.Meanwhile, the music was described as 'the most inappropriate theme music ever used for a children's series'.The cult classic is since said to have paved the way for spooky shows such as Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark?Crackerjack! This children's show had a catchphrase: 'It's Friday. It’s five-to-five. And it’s Crackerjack' At the height of its success, Crackerjack! saw around eight million to ten million viewers per episode – but its frantic live game 'Double or Drop' would get a flurry of complaints nowFirst hitting the television screens in 1955, Crackerjack!'s famous catchphrase was: 'It's Friday. It’s five-to-five. And it’s Crackerjack.'The much-loved show ran for a whopping four decades until 1984, when time was finally called on the series.Comic Stu Francis coined the show's other most popular phrase: 'Ooh, I could crush a grape'. Pencils were also given out as prizes to youngsters appearing on the show.Other comedy acts made famous by Crackerjack! included The Krankies and The Great Soprendo.At the height of its success, the BBC children's variety show saw around eight million to ten million viewers per episode. However, its frantic live game 'Double or Drop' would gain a flurry of complaints nowadays. As part of the show's segment, children were pulled straight from the live audience and made to answer trivia questions on the spot.If they got the answer right, participants were awarded with an awkward or heavy prize to hold. However, for every wrong answer, the child was forced to clutch wet cabbage. If the child dropped any of the items or collected more than three cabbages, they were kicked out of the competition, leaving many children tearful and distressed due to the humiliation.Pee-wee's Playhouse In one episode of Pee-wee's Playhouse, Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart) raised eyebrows with her very enthusiastic reaction to a horse rideThe 1986 series Pee-wee's Playhouse followed the wacky daily adventures of exuberant man-child Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) in his gadget-filled playhouse in Puppetland.Pee-wee's Playhouse was designed as an educational yet entertaining show for children – yet one scene left a bad taste in viewers' mouths. In one episode, Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart) raised eyebrows with her very enthusiastic reaction to a horse ride. Miss Yvonne – known as the most beautiful woman in Puppetland – made some rather suspicious noises while rocking herself backwards and forth on a horse, then hopped off with her hair all messed up and out of breath. Worzel Gummidge The dark and unsettling tone of Worzel Gummidge and elements of 'folk horror' left many children at the time uncomfortableRunning from 1979 to 1981, Worzel Gummidge followed a mischievous, living scarecrow who came to life and caused chaos in the English countryside. But while the premise of the ITV programme was comical, aspects of the show are, with retrospect, challenging – and would likely be perceived as either too scary or too graphic due to broadcast standards placed on children's programmes today.The dark and unsettling tone of the show and elements of 'folk horror' left many children at the time uncomfortable.In particular, Worzel's ability to swap out his heads and keep his spare faces hidden away left young viewers unnerved, while he would also follow children around in several episodes.Now, however, children's television programmes must abide by strict rules that ensure they are psychologically appropriate for the audience and not cause any undue distress.Rocko's Modern Life Rocko's Modern Life featured several adult innuendos, including Rocko's brief stint as a telephone operator implied to be a sex hotlineThroughout its run, the 1993 Nickelodeon series Rocko's Modern Life was controversial for its adult humour, including innuendos and satirical social commentary.The series followed the surreal life of an easily frightened Australian immigrant wallaby named Rocko who encounters various dilemmas and situations regarding otherwise mundane aspects of life.Rocko's Modern Life featured several adult innuendos, including Rocko's brief stint as a telephone operator implied to be a sex hotline, where an instruction sheet notes employees to 'Be Hot, Be Naughty, and Be Courteous', while he flatly repeats 'Oh baby' into the phone.The show's fictional restaurant, Chokey Chicken, was also based on the phrase 'to choke the chicken' – a slang term for masturbation – but this was changed to Chewey Chicken after complaints. Another episode was also yanked off air after it showed Bev Bighead the frog attempting to seduce Rocko, prompting several complaints.Such was the level of thinly veiled adult material in the show's run that it was found that adults made up more than one-fifth of the audience.All That Brian Peck, aka Pickle Boy, would give a pickle to each celebrity guest on All That, with one example seeing Ray Romano in the bathroom to be given a pickle through a hole in the doorNickelodeon's All That was credited with launching the careers of Amanda Bynes, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell – but it wasn't without controversy.The 1994 series featured short comic sketches and weekly musical guests aimed toward a young audience.Yet some of the sketches seemed to be designed with adults in mind, notably the recurring Pickle Boy skit.On the show Brian Peck, aka Pickle Boy, would give a pickle to each celebrity guest, with one example seeing Ray Romano in the bathroom begging for something to eat when Pickle Boy gives him a pickle through a hole in the door.In the skit, Pickle Boy slid a pickle through a 'glory hole' design, with Ray then chomping down on the snack. In another clip, there's a comment about how Pickle Boy 'likes to hurt and tease pickles'. While the skit raised eyebrows at the time, it took on an even more disturbing turn when Brian was later arrested on 11 counts of lewd acts and sexual abuse involving a minor. He pleaded no contest to charges of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation, serving 16 months in prison. He was forced to register as a lifetime sex offender.