First Family: Homer Simpson was also voted greatest TV character

It was compiled by viewers voting by telephone and the internet.

British cartoon Dangermouse took the third position in the poll, with the pink and white saggy cat Bagpuss close behind.

The long-running school drama Grange Hill - a launch pad for many UK soap stars - was voted fifth favourite.

Animated shows Mr Benn and Scooby Doo, alongside Rainbow, also made it into the top 10.

Not forgotten: Grange Hill characters Zammo and Jackie

And it seems viewers remember and prefer the old favourites to new shows such as The Tweenies and The Teletubbies, as they came only 83rd and 90th in the poll.

Homer Simpson, head of the cartoon clan, had previously topped the Channel 4 poll to find The Greatest TV character of all time, beating the likes of Basil Fawlty, Ali G and Inspector Morse.

As well as clips from the 100 top children's shows, viewers were also treated to some behind the scenes secrets.

Jamie Theakston met Pipkins star Hartley Hare

Rick Jones, who presented and operated the puppets on Fingerbobs, came clean about having "drowned" the mouse.

"We'd done the last shot of the second series and I didn't want there to be a third series believe me - two years under that table was enough," said Jones.

"I conspired with the cameraman to keep the camera rolling. I took the mouse and dumped him in my cold cup of coffee - and drowned him."

Bob the Builder: Causing a case of confused identity for Neil Morrissey

Bob the Builder narrator Neil Morrissey, who topped last year's Christmas charts with a song from the show, had his own story.

He said: "It tends to freak kids out when their parents go, 'Look, there's Bob the Builder'.

"You can see some four-year old looking at me just going, 'No way is that Bob the Builder.'"