Jackanory, BBC1

It was a reassuring friend to come home to. As TV programmes go it had to have been one of the simplest in the world to produce.

Essentially you had a storyteller sat in a chair, sometimes the type of chair would vary, and if you were really lucky it was accompanied by the odd illustration appearing on screen.

For some reason I particularly remember stories about Littlenose being read by a man with the world’s bushiest beard wearing an Arran sweater in an incomprehensible Scottish accent.

Just by chance I happened to catch a bit of the new’ Jackanory.

My how things have changed! Replacing the Brian Blessed lookalike was Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley no less.

And where was the humble set?

Forget a cosy rocking chair, it was more like watching a computer game come to life with animated characters and real-life action.

The actors – Jackanory with actors, who would have thought it? – mouthed the words as Sir Kingsley as he will be forever know to devotees of The Sopranos acted as narrator.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the fact that Jackanory still exists is wonderful and anything which brings classic tales to a young audience is brilliant.

But with all it’s hi-tech production and big names, I couldn’t help feel a touch nostalgic for the old Jackanory.

Sometimes a good story simply told can be just as effective.