Sesame Street celebrates 40 years
Updated on 06 November 2009
Big Bird and the Cookie Monster celebrate Sesame Street's 40th anniversary - making it the longest running programme in children's television.
Sesame Street celebrates with its 4,000th episode broadcast next Tuesday, making it the longest running programme in children's television.
During the last four decades the programme has been reproduced in over 140 countries and many have paid tribute to its educational value. First developed in the late 1960s creators strived to revolutionise children's television which was dominated by cartoons.
During the years the show clocked up 122 Emmy awards and continues to attract celebrities such as Michelle Obama who has said: "I never thought I'd be on Sesame Street with Elmo and Big Bird...It's probably the best thing I've done at the White House."
Google has also paid tribute to the iconic show changing its "Google Doodles" to illustrate favourite characters.
