Iconic TV programmes of the 80s.

Here are some of my personal selection of cool 80s TV shows.

Miami Vice - Undercover vice cop Sonny Crockett is paired with New York cop Ricardo Tubbs, who wishes to avenge the drug baron killer of his brother. The electronic music composed by Jan Hammer was also popular. As the two guys and their colleagues combat vice in Miami against a back drop of heat, bikinis and the good life. This show ran for five seasons and featured guest stars such as Annette Bening, Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts and Phil Collins.

The Young Ones - One of the first 'alternative' comedy series, it aired in the early 80s. Set around a group of students living in a shared house it starred Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson (see Celeb Fame Academy post!) and was co-written by Ben Elton who was a rising comedian at the time. Although there were only two series made the show spawned to hit records - a charity number one single with Living Doll a collaboration with Sir Cliff Richard and a number two hit with Hole in my Shoe performed by hippy character 'neil' (Nigel Planer).

Knight Rider - aired in the early 80s, it ran for four seasons and launched the career of David 'Baywatch' Hasselhoff (there is a reason why Baywatch isn't featured in this post!) who played vigilante type Michael Knight and drove a computerised futuristic Trans Am car called KITT which could talk. It was the show that had pre-teens (and older) talking with its special effects.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - there were two camps - those that 'got' the show and those that didn't. I didn't.

Blockbusters - The cult student quiz. Hosted by Bob Holness there was a board of twenty hexagons each containing a different letter of the alphabet. There was a team of two that had to get across the board in linked letters (minimum five hexagons) who played against a single person who had to move down the board (minimum four hexagons). Winners then went onto do a 'Gold Run' for prizes and the opportunity to play again against different opposition. The show ran for ten years originally (from 1983), new versions were tried but did not take off.

The A Team - In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for crimes they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...The A Team. Four guys later joined by a girl made five series of their vigilante efforts in the mid to late eighties in their black van.

Eastenders - One of Britain's top soaps until recently, it has been running for 20 years, see February's bogs for a character synopsis.

Neighbours - Aussie soap that became a cult hit in the UK when it first aired in 1986. Is still being made. Highlights include Scott and Charlene's wedding which was voted favourite TV wedding. launched careers in pop for Natalie Imbruglia, Kylie Minogue and Delta Goodrem amongst others.

Moonlighting - ran from 1985-1989 and launched Bruce Willis's career, this rom-com drama saw Bruce with Cybill Shepherd work as detectives whilst their flirting and the will-they-won't-they suspense kept audiences hooked.