It used to be Blue Peter, Bagpuss, Andy Pandy and Cracker Jack on small living room television sets watched by the whole family.

But a new report on changing viewing habits among the younger generation shows increasing numbers of children are just as likely to be watching their favourite shows on a PC or tablet.

TV Licensing found that children spend an average of two hours and 23 minutes every day watching television – less than the average adult at over three hours.

The report found that almost half of all children aged five to 15 use a PC or tablet to watch TV.

And although 98 per cent still spend time sitting in front of the traditional living room television set,
the use of tablets at home has tripled.

Will Brenton, co-creator of The Tweenies and a producer at Elstree Studios-based Wish Films, believes children’s television has a positive role, no matter which platform it is viewed on.

He said: “Without even realising it children's television plays a huge positive role in our formative years as we're growing up. We make real emotional connections with the characters and their stories - connections that last through our entire adult lives.

“We can all remember what programmes had an effect on us when we were children, and inevitably children want to watch their programmes as soon as they are shown on TV.

“When we created The Tweenies, it was crucial that we created characters children recognised from their world, so we could entertain and enlighten them about their lives and experiences – whilst all the time making them laugh and expanding their imaginative boundaries.

“Naturally the programmes and characters will change, but children will always want to watch programmes specifically made for them for many years to come.”