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The 1980s was a unique decade for British comedies and films in general, with a golden tinge on the ten-year run that produced some incredible cinematic works. In contrast to many American comedies at the time, the differences between the two are often noted, with British work dripping in irony, satire, and self-deprecation, which create a unique brand of comedy. It was also a time when many of Britain's rising stars and comedians were really coming into their own and blossoming into internationally known talents.

There are many films from the time that stand out as rewatchable British classics, such as A Fish Called Wanda and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. These films represent some of the very best of comedy, from the surreal and absurd sketch comedy of Monty Python to films that lean on social commentary and hilarious premises to provide the breeding ground for comical moments.

Tony Robinson’s much loved 1990s Cbbc sitcom Maid Marian And Her Merry Men is heading to the stage this year, here are the details.

Though Tony Robinson is best known as dim-witted servant Baldrick alongside Rowan Atkinson across several iterations of Blackadder, to a certain generation he is creator, writer as well as playing the role of the Sherrif of Nottingham in Maid Marian and Her Merry Men. A classic show, which ran for four series on the BBC from 1989 to 1994.

For kids TV trivia fans, it is thanks to Maid Marian that Russell T Davies got his start in writing television drama.

Funding and studio time was booked for Maid Marian in 1991, but it was put on hiatus. Davies submitted his script for children’s sci-fi serial Dark Season to both the Head of Cbbc and to Granada. Both were interested, but Cbbc’s offer was better, Maid...

Louisa Mellor Nov 22, 2016

Tony Robinson’s revisionist Robin Hood children’s comedy series, out now on limited edition DVD, was a hoot…

In the mid-eighties, my teenage sister amused herself by teaching me to say “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”. Not being a six-year-old well-versed in the rhetorical techniques of social emancipation, I didn’t get it. (I’d seen a flea circus; why mightn’t fish find a use for bikes?) My feminist awakening was obviously going to have to wait.

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But not long, it turned out. One copy of Babette Cole’s Princess Smartypants picked from the Year Three reading table later and I was feeling pretty woke.

Happy birthday, Cbbc! 30-years-old and still going strong, judging by this nostalgia-powered clip starring the likes of Edd the Duck and Gordon the Gopher.

Confronted with three decades' worth of the finest children's entertainment, it was a hard task to corral the Digital Spy team into picking the very best - or at least their favourite - Cbbc programmes.

So here are our picks, from ChuckleVision to Byker Grove and back again, which means you'll have to let us know yours in the comment box below.

1. The Animals of Farthing Wood (1992-1995)

This animated adaptation of Colin Dann's novel was so good it could have been on at any time of day instead of part of the Cbbc lineup.

It was gripping, heartbreaking and funny, and you found yourself getting perhaps too-attached to the likes of Fox, Badger, Toad and Mole (a tear may have been shed on several occasions). Though,...

Danny John-Jules has voiced his approval of a potential Maid Marian and Her Merry Men reunion.

Creator Sir Tony Robinson recently said that he might return to the classic BBC children's comedy "one day".

Red Dwarf actor John-Jules - who played merry man Barrington in the show - said he would definitely like to be involved if the project came to fruition.

"Man, I'd be there like greased cheetah s**t," he told Digital Spy. "I'd be there in a minute.

"To me, it's still probably the - or at least one of the - best children's shows ever made. And the fact it won the Prix Jeunesse award? I think the BBC hadn't won that for 10 years or something.

"The first series won a Royal Television Society award, a Bafta and a Prix Jeunesse. It was like, 'My god, this is the first series and we've won all these,...

Sir Tony Robinson has said that he is "proud" of his classic children's TV series Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

The Blackadder actor created and starred in the BBC comedy, which ran for four series from 1989 to 1994.

"That was the first series that I had artistic control over," he told Digital Spy. "It was just me and my friend David Bell, who was the director, and we made all the decisions.

"You just wouldn't be able to make a series in that way for British television now, there would be too many commissioning editors leaning over your back."

He continued: "We were given a remarkably good budget and were totally allowed to see our vision through. I'm really glad that I was able to do that, and I'm still very proud of it."

When asked if there was any chance of a reunion,...

Diana Rigg

Grey Feeney

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1.Emma Peel (The Avengers). Stylish, well spoken and a martial arts expert – Emma Peel had it all. Prior to The Avengers action women were virtually unknown on British TV and since Diana Rigg first strolled onto the screen, such ladies have become scarce once again because everyone knows that no one can compete with her.

Leela

2.Leela (Doctor Who). Very few cave women get to travel through time and even fewer have the ability to change the color of their irises but Leela was no ordinary cave girl. Louise Jameson went on to have more high jinx as Bergerac’s girl but to Doctor Who fans of a certain age she’ll always be a warrior of the Sevateem.

Green Goddess

3.Diana Moran (Breakfast Time). Unlike Peel and Leela, Diana Moran...