PA
Thirty years ago the Cabbage Patch doll craze swept through the high streets like a toy tornado.
Parents camped out – and even got into fights - so desperate were they to get their hands on the smushy-faced cuddlies for their kids.
And then as quickly as they arrived, they vanished, never – apparently – to be seen again. Until now.
For like the music revivals of tunes from our yesteryears, big business has turned to toy nostalgia – and this summer will see a revival of the Cabbage Patch Kid craze.
The dolls, which were one of the biggest toy crazes in history, will return to Britain's stores in August accompanied by a major new marketing campaign.
All 124 million new Cabbage Patch kids will still resemble their original friends but the latest collection of toys will sport an updated, fashionable array of clothes and style fit for the 21st century.
The newest crop also include interactive play features to appeal to a new generation of Cabbage Patch Kids lovers, while still embracing the uniqueness and cute appeal that the older generation remember and love.
According to The Grocer magazine, the new version of toys will be priced at £29.99 for a 14-inch doll that comes with its very own adoption certificate.
Supplier Jakks Pacific is planning a big marketing push for the dolls including TV, online and print advertising.
To revamp the brand, the company is looking at opening 'birthing centres' around the country where a nurse will 'deliver' new dolls to children.
Did you have a Cabbage Patch doll? Will you be buying - or even queuing - for one this time round?
For a total nostalgia-fest, check our our toys from the past below:
Nostalgic toys through the years
- Barbie, 1959<p> In its first year of production the iconic doll sold 350,000. Over a billion dolls have since been sold in 150 countries delighting kids at Christmas for over 50 years.</p> <p> </p>
- Action Man, 1966<p> Named Toy Of The Year, this macho figurine was a copy of the US version, G.I.Joe. The ultimate ‘doll for boys’ was so successful that it spawned a deluge of accessories down the years.</p> <p> </p>
- Stylophon, 1968<p> Made popular by crooner Rolf Harris, the mini, stylus operated synthesizer became a bizarre Christmas hit and went on to sell three million.</p> <p> </p>
- Space Hoppers, 1971<p> Those bouncy orange blobs didn’t do much, but they were the must have toy of the year and continue to be popular today.</p> <p> </p>
- Simon, 1978<p> The electronic game where you had to do what ‘Simon Says’ by repeating the sequence on the coloured buttons. It was addictive and so popular with children and adults alike that it sold out before Christmas. </p> <p> </p>
- Rubik's Cube, 1980<p> You felt like a genius if you could solve the puzzle with 43 trillion possible moves, and an idiot if you couldn’t. A festive smash in 1980 it sold 100 million in just two years.</p> <p> </p>
- BMX, 1982<p> We all wanted to be stunt riders with the newbicycle moto-cross. Great on tough terrain - we didn’t even mind that it had no gears. Then £49.99 – they now go for as little as 99p on eBay.</p> <p> </p>
- Transformers,1985<p> The vehicles that turned into robots swept the world after telly fame – with Optimus Prime the prize catch. The Hasbro toys clocked up a monster £60million in sales that year.</p> <p> </p>
- Sylvanian Families, 1987<p> The cute collectible plastic animal figures - grouped into families - were a global sensation. They’re recently become a hit again with Tesco selling 10,000 toys a week. </p> <p> </p>
- Ghostbusters Proton Pack, 1988<p> Following the success of the hit movie, children everywhere wanted a replica ‘proton pack’ under the tree - so they could do a spot of their own ghoul hunting.</p> <p> </p>
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1990<p> Possibly the strangest superheroes in history. Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael caused near riots in the shops thanks to the hit TV show and 1990 movie.</p> <p> </p>
- Nintendo Game Boy, 1991<p> The UK went console crazy as the Game Boy hit our shores. It cost £70, but despite a recession, it sold 30 million worldwide.</p> <p> </p>
- Thunderbirds Tracy Island, 1992<p> A re-run of the iconic 1960s TV show led to a Thunderbirds frenzy on the high street with Tracy Island models the most popular toy. Shortages meant Blue Peter even showed viewers how to make their own.</p> <p> </p>
- Power Rangers, 1994<p> When the figures from the TV series arrived in shops they were so popular that Toys R Us had to limit customers to one each.</p> <p> </p>
- Buzz Lightyear, 1996<p> Toy Story was the box office blockbuster of the year. Stores thought Woody would be the most popular figure but it was Buzz Lightyear who proved more popular with shops running out.</p> <p> </p>
- Tamagotchis , 1997<p> There were massive queues for these virtual pets as children tried to keep up with their friends in the playground. A staggering 40 million were sold. </p>
- Cabbage Patch Kids, 1983<p> The weird looking handmade dolls, which came with individual adoption papers, sparked even uglier rows as stores ran out in the run up to Christmas. They sold three million in the first 12 months, 20 million the following year and 120 million to date.</p> <p> </p>
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