For a whole generation of kids, Come Outside wasn’t just a TV show. It was rainy Tuesday mornings at school, half-term nostalgia, and Auntie Mabel teaching us how milk, crisps, and even toilet paper were made. 

Right now, Come Outside isn’t available to stream on BBC iPlayer. That means parents can’t share it with their children, schools can’t use it as an easy resource, and a piece of 90s British culture is gathering dust in the BBC archives.

Why this matters:

•  Educational value: Pippin the dog and Auntie Mabel made real-world learning fun. The show explains everyday processes in a way that still holds up. It’s curriculum gold for KS1 science and geography.

•  Cultural heritage: First broadcast in 1993, it’s part of the BBC’s legacy of brilliant children’s programming. Shows like Blue Peter and Bodger & Badger have had iPlayer runs. Come Outside should too.

•  Demand exists: Clips on YouTube have hundreds of thousands of views. Parents are asking for it. The audience is already there.

•  BBC’s public mission: The BBC is funded to “inform, educate and entertain”. Keeping this show locked away does none of those things.

What we’re asking:

We, the undersigned, call on the BBC to: 

1.  Add the complete series of Come Outside to BBC iPlayer.

2.  Make it available permanently as part of the BBC Archive/Classic Children’s collection.

This isn’t about nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about access. iPlayer is where families go for trusted, ad-free kids’ content. Come Outside belongs there.

Sign this petition if you want Auntie Mabel and Pippin to teach a new generation what happens when you “come outside”.