Cockleshell Bay is a stop-motion children's television series which was shown at lunchtime on ITV during the early 1980s. It was made by Cosgrove Hall for its parent company, the ITV broadcaster Thames Television. Other children's programmes in the same ITV time slot on the remaining four weekdays included Let's Pretend, Jamie and the Magic Torch, and Rainbow – the latter is the show in which Cockleshell Bay began as a regular story feature (reflected in the rainbow design of Cockleshell Bay's logo).

Twins Robin and Rosie Cockle are the main characters. They live at the Bucket and Spade guest house, run by their parents Helen and Christopher. The family has moved to the Bay from a city called Roughington, because their parents wanted to leave city life behind, and their father no longer wanted to work in a factory. Although Robin and Rosie frequently argue with each other, it is clear that they greatly enjoy each other's company. Gran Routy (who is no relation to the family, but is known as "Gran" due to her large number of grandchildren) helps out at the house. Robin and Rosie's friends include Mr. Ezikiel Shipham (known locally as Mr Ship), Mr. McGinty and his donkey Fury (whom Mr. Ship looks after), as well as Ben Gunn the "pirate seagull". In the later series Robin and Rosie have a baby sister called Holly.