Top Toys Of All Time | Preview (Channel 4)

The documentary celebrates the greatest toys of all time and features father/daughter Jonathan Ross and Honey and mother/son Ali

son Hammond and Aidan and best friends, comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley. They're given exclusive after-hours access to run wild in the iconic Regent Street toy shop in London, reliving the excitement of playing with beloved toys from their childhoods.

The documentary is loosely based on Hamleys’ ‘Top 100 Toys of All Time’, created earlier this year by a panel assembled by the retailer to mark its 265th anniversary. 

The list features classic toys from Lego to Hungry Hippos to the Pogo stick and Operation and the programme will dig into a rich archive which will bring back fond memories of these classics, including ads from the 70s and 80s, as well as commentary from experts and historians.

It’s commissioned by Clemency Green, Channel 4’s Senior Commissioning Editor, along with Jo Street, Director of Commissioning, Nations and Regions & Head of Lifestyle. It will be executive produced by Jeremy Daldry, ITN Productions’ Deputy Head of UK Factual, with Audrey Neil on board as Producer/Director and Joanna Traill as Production Manager for ITN Productions.

Jeremy Daldry, ITN Productions’ Deputy Head of UK Factual, said: “Running amok in Hamleys is every big kids’ dream, and it’s just as exciting to have that access as a producer. This is an unashamed feel-good documentary, celebrating the classic toys, games and crazes from the last 200 years. Our celebrities get to relive their favourite toys through the magic of Hamleys after hours and we all get to indulge in some nostalgia for Christmases past through the heart-warming archive.”

Victoria Kay, Head of Buying and Merchandising at Hamleys said: “We had an incredible response when we launched our Top Toys of All Time list back in the summer - people loved the fun and nostalgia of it all - from media to countless customers and commentators all over the world...

"They debated their favourites, shared their memories - the topic has a wonderful universality about it. For this Channel 4 documentary, the ITN Productions team has tapped into the love of toys, childhood and play and sought to bring out the intense excitement and warmth to life that we witness every day in our Regent Store and across our stores worldwide. We are as excited as a child in a toy shop!" 

Stream or watch Top Toys of All Time on Channel 4 at 7:30pm on Monday 22nd December.