It wasn't Mrs Dale, it was Grace Archer who died on the night ITV was launched. A nation mourned, apparently.
I remember Sparky's weird sing-song voice. Slightly menacing, now I come to think of it. And The Runaway Train, of course, and Nellie the Elephant...Two Way Family Favourites takes me straight back to being a child, as it was always on whilst Mum and Nana were cooking Sunday dinner. (It was dinner and tea in those days, never lunch!)
I'm glad others remember Torchy, but does anyone remember Twizzle? I think he lived with other malfunctioning toys - I know there was a doll and a cat and a white-faced golliwog. Probably not very politically correct - I think his name was Chalky.