CHILDREN'S television from the past is back in vogue. It started off as a cult thing, with many series released on video and then DVD, before the likes of Thunderbirds made the transfer to the big screen.

With The Magic Roundabout about to do the same, Bolton Evening News writers look at the film potential of other children's classics.

Ian savage's choice

Title: Trumptonshire (The three programmes Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley combined)

Years broadcast: 1966-69

Scenario: Crudely animated models go about their fairly monotonous business in picture postcard villages, narrated by 70s children's TV superstar Brian Cant.

Why it should be a movie: It could be the biggest ensemble film of all time, packed with intrigue (Miss Lovelace's annoying Pekinese dogs are stolen); action (Windy Miller gets stuck on a windmill blade); romance (Mrs Honeyman the local gossip has an affair with Mrs Carraway the fishmonger) etc . . .

Who should star? Could have a starry cast of 'thousands'. Slade's Noddy Holder is the spitting image of Windy Miller, Russell Crowe as PC McGarry, number 459, Hugh Grant as Captain Snort from Pippin Fort, Emma Thompson as Mrs Honeyman, Ed Norton as carpenter Chippy Minton, Sir Ian McKellen as Chigley's Lord Bellborough and Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Orlando Bloom and Vin Diesel special guest stars as Trumpton firemen Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb.

Title: Postman Pat

Years broadcast: The 1980s

Scenario: Frizzy haired postman, accompanied by his black and white cat Jess, delivers post to the inhabitants of Greendale, helping folk along the way.

Why it should be a movie: Could incorporate a topical story about the fight against "progress" as Pat battles the baddies who want to shut down the village Post Office because of "efficiency measures". Pat could become a blue uniformed action hero.

Who should star: Hugh Jackman as Pat and Cameron Diaz as cat Jess who can now speak. Rowan Atkinson could be the Rev Timms, Peter Kay as PC Selby, Johnny Vegas as Ted Glen and Dame Judi Dench as Mrs Hubbard.

Andrew Mosley's choice:

Title: Mary, Mungo and Midge

Years broadcast: 1969-70

Scenario: Young woman Mary lived with her parents, as well as sensible dog Mungo and minxy mouse Midge on the eighth floor of a suburban block of flats. They would travel to the top floor via the lift with Midge perched on Mungo's nose pressing the number eight.

A typical episode would feature the trio leaving the flat, with Midge becoming involved in a scrape which would have him crawling into a packet, envelope or such and being transported off somewhere, before returning safely to the flats, the lift and the top floor.

At the time, the Richard Baker-narrated programme was quite ground-breaking as it moved into the new working-class life of the tower block.

Why it should be a film: MM&M would be ripe for a bleak Trainspotting-style remake as by now the flats will be run-down and over-run by drug-dealers, graffiti and vandalism. The dream of life in the skies is dead. One for the adults, perhaps.

Who should star: Mary would be played by Rosie O'Donnell, with Mungo and Midge's voices provided by Robbie Coltrane and Anthony Worrall Thompson. Ewan McGregor could be drafted in as a pregnant Mary's wayward boyfriend. Obviously, the film would be set in Scotland.

Title: Mr Benn

Years Broadcast: 13 episodes from 1971

Scenario: Bizarre plot in which besuited and bowler hatted Mr Benn left his home at 52 Festive Road, went to a costume shop, briefly spoke to the owner, walked into a changing room and emerged as a cowboy, pirate, hot air balloonist or wizard. Just as he found himself in trouble the shopkeeper would reappear and Mr Benn would be brought back into the real world.

Why it should be a movie: Ideal for a film makeover as observers at the time linked the scenario to drugs, religion with the shopkeeper as God bringing Mr Benn into another life, and confused sexuality.

Who should star: Steve Coogan would lead as Mr Benn with Nigel Planer as the hippy drug-dealing/God-like shopkeeper.

Frank Elson's choice:

Title: We Want Muffin The Mule

Years Broadcast: 1946-1955

Scenario: This featured the adventures of a puppet Mule, ending each week with him dancing on a piano while Annette Mills, sister of John Mills, sang songs.

Why it should be a movie: It is the first programme I can remember, one of my earliest memories in fact, and I can still hum the theme tune!

Who should star: Muffin didn't speak of course but I think of him as being a bit cheeky, so I think Ralf Little in his "Two Pints of Lager and Packet of Crisps" persona.

Title: Captain Pugwash

Years broadcast: 1957-58 and repeated 1974-75

Scenario: Captain Pugwash featured the adventures of a pirate crew, mostly cowards, with a blustery, cowardly captain sailing the high seas in their ship the Black Pig. They generally got into trouble and were always saved by Tom the cabin boy. I missed the last showings, but I was married by then.

Why it should be a movie: The blustery coward is a stalwart of comedy and the pirate situation would give many opportunities for a very funny story. It would make a great adventure film with real actors instead of animation.

Who should star: John Rhys Davies would make an excellent Captain Pugwash and Lee Boardman was borne to be arch-enemy Black Jake. Tom the cabin boy would have to be an unknown schoolboy.

Karen Stephen's choice:

Title: FIREBALL XL5

Years Broadcast: 1963

Scenario: Set in 2067, the real star of this Gerry and Sylvia Anderson produced show was a rocket with wings that could take off like an aeroplane and fly in different atmospheres. The storylines usually followed a standard pattern of the crew fighting off danger and putting an end to the evil plans of wicked men.

The other stars of the show were the crew which consisted of Colonel Steve Zodiac - the dashing, handsome and brave pilot of the spacecraft and the medical expert Venus, a platinum-haired Marilyn Monroe-esqe fox who was a Doctor of Space Medicine who, of course, was the love interest of Steve Zodiac. Professor Matthew "Matt" Matic was the bespectacled scientific officer and, completing the crew was Robert the Robot, Steve Zodiac's co-pilot. He was completely transparent and his workings visible.

Why it should be a movie: Everybody loves space travel and with such an eclectic crew - and two extremely good looking leading stars - this one is a must. The location would obviously have to be "cosmic and space-like" and the Tunisian set of Star Wars would be perfect.

Who should star: Steve Zodiac would be played by Colin Firth (in a blond wig), Venus by Renee Zelwegger and Professor Matic would have to be Jack Black.

Title: Joe 90

Years Broadcast:1968, 30 episodes

Scenario: He may have only been nine-years-old but Joe McClaine, the adopted son of brilliant computer expert, Professor Ian "Mac" McClaine, was star of this highly original series. With the aid of a pair of oversized spectacles with build in special powers, Joe could become the greatest of all astronauts, a dare-devil pilot, an ace motor racing driver, a brain surgeon or whatever else may be necessary for him to bring world peace through the World Intelligence Network (WIN) . . . yet all the time he still looks like a freckle-faced schoolboy.

Why it should be a movie: Mainly for the fantastic special effects, fast cars (his father's car was a unique vehicle called the Crocodile) and, of course Big Rat. Locations would be Devon and London.

Who should star: Joe 90 would be played by a member of the Proclaimers and his father, Professor McClaine by Jude Law.