The 40 most popular british kids TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


CBeebies Bedtime Stories
2009
country: United Kingdom
Join a host of different celebrities for a different story read each night just before bedtime.


Peppa Pig
2004
country: United Kingdom
Peppa Pig is an energetic piggy who lives with Mummy, Daddy, and little brother George. She loves to jump in mud puddles and make loud snorting noises.


Thomas & Friends
1984
country: United Kingdom
Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.


Octonauts
2010
country: United Kingdom
Follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylized anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from where they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles.


Ben 10
2016
country: United States
With the fifth offshoot of the "Ben 10" franchise, the animated series returns to its roots and its original name, bringing 10-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Tennyson, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max back to life on a new summer vacation journey. As in the original, the stories in the remake of the series also spin around an alien wristwatch called "the Omnitrix," with the help of Ben can turn into ten different aliens, which come up with different supernatural powers. He fights enemy aliens and experiences with his grandfather and cousin the most exciting vacation imaginable.


Rainbow
1972
country: United Kingdom
Children's puppet programme featuring music and stories. Join George, Bungle, Zippy, and all their friends at the Rainbow House, always an exciting place to be.


Bob the Builder
1999
country: United Kingdom
Bob the Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and follow-through. The team always shows that “The Fun Is In Getting It Done!”


Shaun the Sheep
2007
country: United Kingdom
Shaun the Sheep thinks and acts like a person in a barnyard, which usually gets him into trouble. The farmer's sheepdog, Bitzer, tries to keep Shaun and his friends out of trouble. The farmer is oblivious to the humanlike features of his flock, who are like one big, happy family.


PJ Masks
2015
country: Canada
Connor, Greg and Amaya are normal kids by day, but at night they activate their bracelets, which link into their pajamas and give them fantastic super powers, turning them into their alternate identities: the PJ Masks! The team consists of Catboy (Connor), Gekko (Greg) and Owlette (Amaya). Together, they go on adventures, solve mysteries, and learn valuable lessons. Watch the first six seasons of PJ Masks now on Disney+!


Fireman Sam
1987
country: United Kingdom
Follow the adventures of fireman Sam and his colleagues as they protect the citizens of the Welsh town of Pontypandy. Whenever the alarm sounds, brave Sam and his co-workers can be counted on to jump into a fire engine, hop onto a helicopter, or even launch an inflatable lifeboat to battle blazes, mount rescue missions, or provide medical attention to those in need.


The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!
2010
country: United Kingdom
The Cat in the Hat is back -- and this time, he's teaching Sally and her brother, Nick, some awfully nifty things to think about!


Hey Duggee
2014
country: United Kingdom
Animated preschool series about a clubhouse that is run by a big dog called Duggee.


The Sooty Show
1955
country: United Kingdom
The Sooty Show is a British children's Puppet series which aired on the BBC from 1955 to 1967 and ITV from 1968 to 1992. It follows the adventures and comedic day to day life of puppets Sooty, Sweep and Soo with their owner Harry Corbett, and in later years, his son Matthew.


Tiswas
1974
country: United Kingdom
Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's British television series which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited. It was created by ATV continuity announcer Peter Tomlinson following a test period in 1973 when he tried out a few competitions and daft stuff between the programmes.


Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
2002
country: United Kingdom
The animated daily trials and tribulations of clueless yet clever loner Mr Bean (aided by his best friend Teddy of course!) as he stumbles from one mishap to the next, always finding complex solutions to the simplest of problems.


Pipkins
1973
country: United Kingdom
Pipkins was a British children's TV programme. Hartley Hare, Pig, Topov and the gang were the stars of ATV's pre-school series which ran from January 1973 to 29 December 1981.


Numberblocks
2017
country: United Kingdom
Learn how much fun counting can be with the Numberblocks - a fun-loving group of numbers who work together to solve problems big and small.


Teletubbies
1997
country: United Kingdom
Pre-school fun, fantasy and education with colourful rotund characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po in a magical land called Teletubbyland.


Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!
2021
country: Canada
In a reboot of the classic TV series, a younger Thomas The Tank Engine goes on adventures with all of his friends, as they work on the Island of Sodor.


The Saturday Show
2001
country: United Kingdom
The Saturday Show was a BBC children's Saturday morning show that first aired in 2001, replacing the popular Live & Kicking. It had a mix of audience participation, cartoons, games and gunge. Initially it was presented by Dani Behr and Joe Mace. They left in 2002 and were replaced by Fearne Cotton and Simon Grant. In 2004, Cotton left and Grant was joined by Angellica Bell and Jake Humphrey, who made up the final team of presenters until the programme finished in September 2005.


Balamory
2002
country: United Kingdom
Live action series for pre-school children based around the small island community of Balamory in Scotland.


The Sarah Jane Adventures
2007
country: United Kingdom
Sarah Jane Smith is a truly remarkable woman who inhabits a world of mystery, danger and wonder; a world where aliens are commonplace and the Earth is under constant threat. A world that Maria Jackson, a seemingly ordinary girl, can only dream of – until she moves in next door. Nothing will ever be ordinary again.


Tweenies
1999
country: United Kingdom
Tweenies Bella, Milo, Fizz and Jake get into many adventures such as visiting a farm, watching puppet shows, learning new songs and listening to stories.


Pingu
1986
country: Switzerland
Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.


Rolie Polie Olie
1998
country: United Kingdom
Rolie Polie Olie was a children's television series produced by Nelvana, distributed by Disney, and created by William Joyce, Maggie Swanson, and Anne Wood. The show centers on a little roly pollie who is composed of several spheres and other three-dimensional geometric shapes. The show was one of the earliest series that was fully animated in CGI, and the first CGI animated preschool series.Rolie Polie Olie now airs in reruns on Disney Junior. Rolie Polie Olie won a Gemini Award in Canada for "Best Animated Program" in 1999. The show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" in 2000 and 2005. William Joyce won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Production Design for this series. The show has a vintage atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s and early 1960s, with futuristic elements.


Wacky Races
2017
country: United Kingdom
Wacky Races (2017) is a reboot of the classic 1968 Hanna-Barbera animated series, bringing a fresh, modern take on the original premise while retaining much of the core essence that made the original show so beloved. The 2017 version, created by Warner Bros. Animation, aired on the Boomerang network and introduced a new generation to the zany, high-speed races of the characters. In this updated series, the characters from the original Wacky Races return, but with a more contemporary style and new backstories. The vehicles are also revamped with more advanced technology and a few new additions to the roster, though the classic ones like Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine and Penelope Pitstop’s Compact Pussycat are still present.


Robotboy
2005
country: France
Robotboy is the latest creation of the world renowned scientist Professor Moshimo. Due to fears that Robotboy would be stolen by his arch-enemy Dr. Kamikazi and his main henchman Constantine to be used to take over the world, Professor Moshimo entrusts Robotboy to 10-year-old Tommy Turnbull, his biggest fan. While being protected by Tommy and his two friends Lola and Gus, or "G-man" as he calls himself, Robotboy learns how to behave and act as if he were a real boy.


The Worst Witch
2017
country: United Kingdom
Mayhem and mishaps follow young witch Mildred Hubble wherever she goes. She just can't help it! But with her friends' help, Mildred always manages to avoid disaster just in time.


Gadget & the Gadgetinis
2002
country: Canada
Having been recruited by an elite international peacekeeping group called the World Organization of Mega Powers (WOMP), Inspector Gadget is now Lieutenant Gadget, and fights crime with a pair of mechanical assistants called Gadgetinis, who are small robot versions of the Inspector created by his niece, 12-year-old Penny (due to Brain retiring from active duty).


The Dumping Ground
2013
country: United Kingdom
Following the exploits and antics of children living in a care home. Growing up in a care home brings all sorts of tough challenges, but the kids know that if they stick together, they can get through anything life throws at them.


The Mr. Men Show
2008
country: United Kingdom
The Mr. Men Show was an animated television series based on the original Mr. Men and Little Miss books created in the 1970s, 80s and 90s by British author Roger Hargreaves and his son Adam Hargreaves. Adapted from the published source material into a television variety program, The Mr. Men Show features comedy sketches, pantomimes, dance numbers and music videos. The TV series is directed by Mark Risley and executive produced by Eryk Casemiro & Kate Boutilier. Original score and songs are composed by Jared Faber. Season 1 first aired on February 4, 2008 and Season 2 aired on September 8, 2009.


Jungle Junction
2009
country: United States
Set deep in the heart of an unexplored, road-filled Jungle, the show features a group of fun-loving animals on wheels and aims to help preschoolers develop their pre-literacy skills, as well as encouraging them to care about the environment.


Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
2025
country: United Kingdom
The friendship between fairy princess Holly and Ben Elf in an enchanted magical kingdom of elves and fairies.


Chuggington
2008
country: United Kingdom
Koko, Brewster and Wilson are three young, adventurous trainee "chuggers", learning about working on the railway in the town of Chuggington, with the help of the railway controller, Vee, the older engines, and their human friends.


Bananas in Pyjamas
1992
country: Australia
Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television show that premiered on 20 July 1992 on ABC. It has since become syndicated in many different countries, and dubbed into other languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling pajamas. This aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997 as a half-hour series, then became a 15-minute show paired with a short-lived 15-minute series The Crayon Box, under a 30-minute block produced by Sachs Family Entertainment titled Bananas in Pajamas & The Crayon Box. Additionally, the characters and a scene from the show were featured in the Kids for Character sequel titled Kids for Character: Choices Count. The pilot episode was Pink Mug.


Postman Pat
1981
country: United Kingdom
Pat and his black-and-white cat Jess deliver the mail in Greendale.


Something Else
2003
country: Canada
Two creatures, one named "Something", the other named "Something Else" try to co-exist peacefully despite the fact that they are complete opposites. Imagine The Odd Couple as if it were done by Dr. Suess and you've got the basic idea.


The Creature Cases
2022
country: France
Special agents Sam and Kit hop the globe with their sleuthing skills, science facts and cool gadgets to solve the animal kingdom's many mysteries.


The Cramp Twins
2003
country: Germany
The story of a pair of non-identical twin brothers, Lucien and Wayne, who live with their hygiene-crazed mother and their western/country-crazed father in a small town called Soap City. Lucien is a delicate, nature-loving boy, while Wayne is a rough antisocial bully, whose only interest in life is junk. Naturally, some conflicts will ensue.


Dead End: Paranormal Park
2022
country: United Kingdom
Two teens and a talking pug team up to battle demons at a haunted theme park — and maybe even save the world from a supernatural apocalypse.
British television's defining habit is the short series — six episodes, one writer, a finite story. That structure produced the modern prestige miniseries and a format catalogue the rest of the world keeps adapting.
Children's television is a craft of its own — pacing, repetition, and emotional clarity tuned to a developing audience. The best of it has a visual and musical identity kids remember for life.