Poll: Were things better in the 1980s?

It was the era when Wham! and Duran Duran blasted out of Walkmans and boomboxes while leg warmers and neon clothes were wardrobe essentials.

And it was the decade that saw Dynasty, Dallas, Fraggle Rock and Knight Rider dominate our television screens, while hairstyles varied from flattops to mullets and perms.

It may all appear rather naff in an age of flat screen TVs, ipods and trendy leggings. But they say what goes around comes around. And now the 1980s is back big time – with You Tube clips from the decade enjoying millions of hits.

Food manufacturers also realising the power of nostalgia.

One of those long lost favourites was children's favourite ice cream, Funny Feet.

After more than a decade out of production, the iconic strawberry-flavoured treat has made a triumphant comeback, thanks to a campaign by The Grocer magazine.

Thousands of people voted for the return of the ice lolly in the magazine's Bring Back a Brand campaign.

It beat off the likes of other dormant products such as Toffos, Trios and Turkey Twizzlers to make a much-heralded return to supermarkets.

Confectionery producer Unilever even had to track down the original Funny Feet model to ensure the ice-lolly was made exactly as fans remembered it.

Brigitta Holland, brand manager for Wall's at Unilever, said: "Funny Feet were launched in 1980.

"It is clear Funny Feet were a childhood favourite of many and we are happy to be able to meet the palpable consumer demand.

"Tapping into the nostalgia that today's adults have for Wall's Funny Feet, we aim to bring further growth to the £3.5m hand held multipacks sector by providing a high-quality, fun product that parents can enjoy once again.

"But this time we hope that parents will sharing the experience with their own children."

It is the return of Funny Feet and the results of the Bring Back a Brand campaign which has brought memories flooding back for many children of the eighties.They are now wanting to share their favourite childhood brands with their own children.

And it has sparked calls from consumers who want more favourites, axed from the shops when demand fell, to be brought back to life and given a second chance.

Facebook campaigns and online petitions have even been started in a bid to persuade producers to revive some of the so-called retro snacks.

Shropshire Star readers responded in their droves when asked what brands from the eighties and other eras they wanted to see return to Britain's supermarket shelves.

They included Jo Longman who wants Fish n Chip crisps brought back. "Used to love 'em as a kid," she said.

Dan Blackburn posted that he wanted to see the return of Hedgehog crisps, Creamola Foam and Top Deck shandy.

While Joanne Elenka Davies said Piglet crisps. "I used to love those!!! Anyone else remember them?"

Glenn Jenkinson said Texan Bars while Andrea Nicholas also wants a Fish n Chips crisps comeback.

Kerry Ann Partington wants to see Thundercat crisps back on the shelves while Dottie Bennett said the Banjo bar, Galaxy mini buttons and, like many, the 1980s price of fuel!

Also calling for the revival of Fish n Chip crisps was Emily Minor while Lisa Wilton said Tutti Frutti ice cream and Wayne Foxall said Texan bars.

So why are we so nostalgic?

Dr Victoria Galbraith is a senior lecturer in psychology at Wolverhampton University. She said some people may hanker after times gone by because they take some comfort in looking back to when things, including life and technology, were maybe less complicated.

She said as people move through life they "take on responsibilities, they have partners and have children and life changes".

"As with the ice cream, the eighties and the sweets, you look back and think "I remember when life was different and I did not have all that responsibility in my life".

"It is kind of looking through rose-tinted spectacles to when things were much more simple."

It might also be simply a question of time taking its toll.

In the 1980s, everyone longed for the 1960s, spawning a multi-million pound industry in nostalgia.

This was especially true for music, such as the run of Stars on 45 records that reworked 60s songs into a disco montage.

Last week's X Factor was given a 1980s theme – and the breaks during the show were packed with adverts for new 1980s compilation albums.

Events and anniversaries have also brought the decade back into our consciousness.

Margaret Thatcher's death made the nation revisit the time she was in power, with debates raging again about monetarism and the miner's strike.

William's marriage to Kate brought back comparisons to the days of Charles marrying Diana. Andy married Fergie in the 1980s – and now there are rumours their romance is coming back too.

Pacman, which was cutting edge technology in the 1980s, is now one of the most downloaded apps – not because it is any good, but because it is wonderfully nostalgic.

Sales of Rubik's Cubes, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Transformers and My Little Ponies all fell away for a while after the 1980s, but are now healthy again.

And this week it was revealed the Clangers, the tale of a race of knitted aliens eking out a threadbare existence on a cold blue planet, not far from Earth, was to return to our screens.

Strictly, of course, the Clangers was a 1970s show, which was first seen in 1969. But it was taken off the BBC in the 1980s and was loved by a generation.

Co-creator Peter Firmin said the new series, on CBeebies, would involve "great storytelling with lots of heart".

He said: "When you watch the original Clangers you have to make allowances for the limitations of the animation techniques when it was made.

"It was magical for its time, and loved in the 1970s and 80s – now we aim to keep that magic but create a new Clangers for a new age."

CBeebies controller Kay Benbow said the channel is aware of the power of nostalgia – and expected the series to be watched by children and their parents alike.

She added: "Nostalgia is a funny thing, and we always think very carefully about remakes or re-imaginings of classic children's programmes.

"The Clangers is a programme that has an enduring magic. Like many things that have returned from that era, new proposition has been built firmly upon the joyful foundations of the original."