'A-Team' is viewers' most-wanted oldie for prime-time revival

As an action comedy about four Vietnam war veterans turned mercenaries, The A-Team was an unlikely television hit.

But 20 years since it was first shown in Britain, the series featuring Hannibal Smith, Face, Murdock and BA Baracus has been voted the show viewers would most like to be revived.

In a poll of 1,000 television viewers, conducted by the web portal Yahoo!, 48 per cent chose The A-Team over other "oldies" they would like screened again during prime time.

First shown in 1983, the series told the story of four wrongly convicted Vietnam war veterans who escaped prison to work as soldiers of fortune, with the FBI always in hot pursuit.

BA Baracus, the mohican-headed muscleman with a fear of flying, played by the actor Mr T, became the star but much acclaim was heaped on the chemistry between all four eccentric characters.

"The appeal is that it stars four very different types who all bounce off each other comically as a team," said Greg Schmitz, a film reviewer.

In the same niche of 1980s action comedy, The Dukes of Hazzard was the second most popular.

Eighteen per cent of viewers said they wanted to see a re-run of the exploits of Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke versus Boss Hogg, the corrupt mayor of Hazzard County, and the bumbling Sheriff Rosco P Coltrane.

Japanese fantasy series Monkey and Knight Rider, starring David Hasselhoff and his robotic car, Kitt, shared third place with 10 per cent of the votes each.

Doctor Who was chosen by 1 per cent of viewers. A new series of the sci-fi favourite will be screened by the BBC in 2005.

Frazer Lee of Yahoo! said: "We're all obviously kids at heart as children's shows seem to be the most popular choice for remakes."

HOW THEY VOTED

1 The A Team (48%)

2 The Dukes of Hazzard (18%)

3= Knight Rider (10%)

Monkey (10%)

5 Dallas (5%)

6 Miami Vice (3%)

7= Minder (2%)

Dempsey and Makepeace (2%)

9= Doctor Who (1%)

CHiPs (1%)