Sunday Gang, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 7 6 – 1 9 8 0 (UK)
51 x 25 minute episodes

“Knocking on doors, opening windows
Up and down and round”

Debuting on Sunday 29 August 1976, this BBC religious series for kids – looking at “God’s world” in stories, plays and songs – was aimed at seven to eleven-year-olds and designed to be wholesome and improving as well as entertaining.

The titular gang – outdoorsy type JD (John Dryden), dim and daffy country girl Dodo (Jill Shakespeare), wacky inventor Boff (Glen Stuart) and inquisitive loudmouth tomboy Teena (former Lizzie Dripping star Tina Heath) – met each week in their clubhouse (hidden away somewhere in BBC Television Centre) to retell Bible stories for the young viewing audience at home.

Assisted by a wonky-looking, homemade computer, a kung-fu cuckoo, and a screeching Scottish puppet named Mackintosh Mouse who lived in a parrot cage and was paranoiac about cats (but had never seen one, so anything could be a cat).

Stories on the show were illustrated with a cartoon character named Hippity Dog.

Tina Heath left in 1979 to take over from Lesley Judd as a new Blue Peter presenter. She was replaced for the final series of The Sunday Gang by Alison Christie-Murray as Ally.

Tina met her husband, Dave Cooke, during her time on the show (he was writing music for the show). They married in August 1977.

“We are the sunday gang
Why don’t you come with us today?”

Dodo
Jill Shakespeare
JD
John Dryden
Boff
Glen Stuart
Teena
Tina Heath
Ally
Alison Christie-Murray