The Magic Roundabout first aired on 18 October 1965, just before the teatime news. Eric Thompson's brilliant and witty reinvention of the French original - Le Manège Enchanté - combined with the timing of the programme to create an instant children's classic.
The first programme featured Zebedee, who came to restore the magic that Mr Rusty's barrel organ and the roundabout had lost, and bring the children back. Subsequent episodes introduced Florence, and the other inhabitants of the garden: Dougal the dog, Brian the snail, Ermintrude the cow, Dylan the rabbit, and Mr McHenry the gardener.
In Thompson's version of the story, Dougal - Pollux in the original - was loosely based on comedian Tony Hancock. Accusations that the character Dylan was inspired by drug culture were always denied by Thompson; he also had to deny that the name Dougal was a dig at the French leader de Gaulle.
The Magic Roundabout ran on the BBC until 1977, but in 1972 outgrew its origins to become a feature film - Dougal and the Blue Cat. After Thompson's untimely death, Channel 4 made some new episodes in 1992, with Nigel Planer pastiching his style. However, it is Eric Thompson's version that is looked on with most fondness today, by viewers who remember the start of the 6 O'clock News as "time for bed".
October anniversaries
Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast 1 October 1939
Songs of Praise 1 October 1961
Live and Kicking 2 October 1993
Points of View 2 October 1961
The Trials of Life3 October 1990
Pick of the Pops 4 October 1955
Monty Python's Flying Circus5 October 1969
Poldark 5 October 1975
You and Yours 6 October 1970
Woman's Hour 7 October 1946
DIY SOS7 October 1999
Later... with Jools Holland 8 October 1992
In Touch8 October 1961
Make Yourself At Home - Programmes for Immigrants 10 October 1965
Grandstand 11 October 1958
Around the World in 80 Days 11 October 1989
On The Move 12 October 1975
First edition of Any Questions 12 October 1948
First edition of Omnibus 13 October 1967
Bombing of Broadcasting House 15 October 1940
Play For Today 15 October 1970
First televised Party Election Broadcast 15 October 1951
Birds of a Feather 16 October 1989
Blue Peter first broadcast16 October 1958
The Magic Roundabout 18 October 1965
The formation of the BBC18 October 1922
BBC Symphony Orchestra first broadcast22 October 1930
Captain Pugwash 22 October 1957
Terry and June 24 October 1979
Launch of daytime television 27 October 1986
The Wednesday Play first broadcast 28 October 1964
First edition of Today 28 October 1957
Maida Vale opens30 October 1934