Stuff We Like

Long before every brand tried to make us cry with a soft piano cover of a 70s song, Christmas adverts were simpler. Brighter. Louder. Often a bit weird. And for kids growing up in the ’80s, ’90s or early 2000s, these ads weren’t just commercials — they were the official announcement that Christmas had started. Here are the five festive adverts that shaped childhood Decembers and still live rent-free in your memory. 5. The Coca-Cola “Holidays Are Coming” Truck (1995–present) E

Nothing captures the true spirit of Christmas quite like… total chaos in the toy aisle. Before online pre-orders, stock alerts, or next-day delivery, parents had one option: physically fight their way through December crowds to get The Toy of the Year. Here are the five infamous Christmas toys that caused genuine carnage — bruised ribs, empty shelves, and “we might have more in the stockroom” lies included. 5. Cabbage Patch Kids (1983 release) The dolls were cute. The afterma

The Britpop years (roughly 1993–1999) were full of swagger, parkas, and bands who genuinely believed they could rewrite music history — but when Christmas rolled around, even the coolest acts couldn’t resist releasing something festive, ironic, or just plain odd. And while Fairytale of New York, Slade, and Mariah get wheeled out every year without fail, these Britpop-era Christmas singles… don’t. Some were great. Some were bizarre. Some were clearly written in 20 minutes betw

At 12 years old, you’re convinced pop stars are basically poets. Every line feels like it carries the weight of the universe — heartbreak, destiny, the meaning of life. Then you grow up, hear the same lyric again, and think: wait… what? Here are five pop lyrics that once felt poetic, intense, and soul-shaping — but now read a bit more like diary scribbles written during a maths lesson. 5. “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends” – Spice Girls, “Wannabe” (1996

You’d think children’s television would be a safe space — bright colours, cheerful theme tunes, maybe a talking animal or two. And yet, somehow, British kids’ TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s was absolutely full of characters that could haunt your dreams for decades. Whether they were puppets, humans in questionable makeup, or unholy stop-motion creations, these villains were nightmare fuel disguised as family entertainment. So let’s face the fear: here are five kids’ TV baddies who w

For every PlayStation or Game Boy that ruled the world, there were a handful of consoles that almost made it — clever, weird, or just ahead of their time. Some were marketing disasters. Some were too expensive. Some were just too cool for their own good. These are the retro consoles that burned brightly, briefly, and then vanished, leaving behind a trail of fond memories, weird peripherals, and second-hand eBay searches at 2 a.m. 5. Sega Dreamcast (1999) The idea: Sega’s come

Every so often, a TV show sticks the landing so hard it leaves you hollow for days. Back in the days of actual appointment viewing — no spoilers, no streaming, just a nation weeping into its tea — a good finale could bring everything to a standstill. These are the five TV endings that absolutely wrecked us, whether through heartbreak, nostalgia, or that crushing “What do I do with my life now?” feeling that followed the credits. 5. Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) The setup: Afte

There was a time when every cause, crisis or vaguely heartfelt moment spawned a charity single — a slightly chaotic gathering of pop stars earnestly singing about world peace while wearing sunglasses indoors. And while the intentions were good, not all of these tracks have stood the test of time. In fact, some have curdled spectacularly. Here are five charity singles that, for one reason or another, have aged like milk left on a windowsill in July. 5. Band Aid 20 – “Do They K

Before health and safety forms, risk assessments, and “supervised public displays,” there was one man — usually your dad — armed with a box of questionable fireworks, a lighter, and unwavering confidence. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, Bonfire Night was less about organised fun and more about lighting something potentially explosive in your back garden and hoping for the best. Here are five fireworks that somehow passed as “safe for home use” — and the memories (and minor singes)

Every November, we’d dutifully colour in a picture of Guy Fawkes, make a wobbly cardboard Houses of Parliament, and chant 'Remember, remember the fifth of November' as if we were about to uncover a national secret. But here’s the thing — a lot of what we were told about Bonfire Night wasn’t exactly true. Between playground retellings, half-remembered lessons and a few centuries of propaganda, the real story of Guy Fawkes is a bit messier (and less heroic) than we learned at s

Before the internet, we had the playground. That’s where stories spread faster than head lice, whispered behind the bike sheds or during wet playtime. Every school had that one ghost story that everyone swore was true — and no adult could ever convince us otherwise. Here are five ghostly legends that haunted every playground in Britain. 5. The Girl in the Mirror The story: You’d stand in front of a mirror — usually in the girls’ toilets — turn off the lights, chant a name (of

Halloween is all about monsters, but let’s be honest — some of them were weirdly attractive. Whether it was the hair, the attitude, or just a hint of eyeliner and danger, plenty of on-screen creatures made us feel things we didn’t quite understand at the time. So light a pumpkin-spice candle, dim the VHS-glow lighting, and let’s confess our questionable crushes. 5. David Bowie – Jareth the Goblin King (Labyrinth, 1986) The allure: A glam-rock villain with spectacular hair, a

When a beloved movie hits theatres, the marketing machine goes into overdrive, and sometimes that includes creating an animated tie-in series. Ideally, these cartoons expand on the story, give fans more of what they love, and make narrative sense. But, as any fan of 90s and 2000s animation can tell you, sometimes the results are… baffling. Here’s a look at five movie tie-in cartoons that left audiences scratching their heads. AI Generated image. Source: Shutterstock. 1. The R

Saturday mornings were once a sacred time for kids: cartoons, cereal, and a few hours of glorious escapism. But not every show delivered predictable fun. Some series went so far off the rails that viewers were left questioning reality, narrative logic, or just why anyone greenlit them. Here are five of the most bewildering instances of Saturday morning chaos. AI generated image. Source: Shutterstock 1. Mighty Max (1993–1994) On paper, Mighty Max sounded like a dream: a boy wi

As the autumn evenings draw in the long dark nights, it’s the perfect opportunity to cosy up on the sofa with a great book to read – here are some of this month’s new releases...

Music videos were meant to be fun and stylish — but in the ’80s and ’90s, directors often leaned into experimental or surreal imagery...

Everyone remembers Blue Peter, Grange Hill and SM:TV Live. But what about the oddball kids’ shows that aired once or twice, burrowed into...

Long before The X Factor and The Voice, talent shows were often seen as one-hit wonders factories. For every Will Young or Girls Aloud,...

School assemblies were supposed to be about inspiration, information, or at least making sure everyone was awake before first period....

Theme tunes should be fun and catchy — a warm invitation into the world of a TV show. But sometimes, children’s TV went in a very...