CITV to air 'old skool' television shows including Count Duckula and Rainbow next year

ITV bosses are to turn back the clock to celebrate "old skool" children's shows by screening two full days of classic shows next month.

Popular shows of yesteryear such as Count Duckula, Press Gang, Art Attack and The Tomorrow People are to be brought back to celebrate the 30th anniversary of CITV.

Digital channel CITV will devote its schedules on January 5 and 6 to screen eight-and-a-half hours each day of past favourites.

Programmes will also include Super Gran, The Raggy Dolls and Puddle Lane as well as Rosie & Jim, Rainbow and Children's Ward, which helped to launch the writing careers of Russell T Davies and Paul Abbott.

As well as the Old Skool Weekend of programmes, ITV1 will air a documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of CITV.

Jamila Metran, CITV's head of programming, said: "We are very proud of CITV's heritage and look forward to bringing back all the old favourites for this one-off, not-to-be-missed event and show the kids what their parents watched when they were young."

Children's ITV launched on January 3 1983 with guest presenters such as Roland Rat, Basil Brush and Timmy Mallett recording introductions to programmes. The CITV channel launched in 2006.

PA