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| What happened to children's Saturday morning TV? | What happened to children's Saturday morning TV? |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A new children's show launches before a live audience on BBC2 on Saturday. But what happened to the shows that used to fill entire Saturday mornings? | A new children's show launches before a live audience on BBC2 on Saturday. But what happened to the shows that used to fill entire Saturday mornings? |
| Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Saturday mornings for many children meant a trip to the cinema - Tom & Jerry, old westerns and tailor-made specials from the Children's Film Foundation. | Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Saturday mornings for many children meant a trip to the cinema - Tom & Jerry, old westerns and tailor-made specials from the Children's Film Foundation. |
| But the 1970s saw TV replace the silver screen in the affections of the nation's youngsters. | But the 1970s saw TV replace the silver screen in the affections of the nation's youngsters. |
| Firstly, ITV's regions launched shows - the best-known being the chaotic blend of jokes, custard pies and buckets of water on Chris Tarrant's Tiswas which was eventually shown across the network. | Firstly, ITV's regions launched shows - the best-known being the chaotic blend of jokes, custard pies and buckets of water on Chris Tarrant's Tiswas which was eventually shown across the network. |
| Then, in 1976, the BBC introduced the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop with Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin and John Craven. | Then, in 1976, the BBC introduced the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop with Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin and John Craven. |
| Between them both, a Saturday morning institution was created. A three-hour marathon of pop videos, phone-ins, games, puppets and celebrities was interspersed with popular kids' shows, all propelled by the spontaneity of its presenters, working much of the time without scripts. | Between them both, a Saturday morning institution was created. A three-hour marathon of pop videos, phone-ins, games, puppets and celebrities was interspersed with popular kids' shows, all propelled by the spontaneity of its presenters, working much of the time without scripts. |
| The BBC hopes to rekindle some of that sparkle with a new children's show called Live 'n' Deadly, which promises an hour of "amazing adventures and animal encounters" with a live audience. | The BBC hopes to rekindle some of that sparkle with a new children's show called Live 'n' Deadly, which promises an hour of "amazing adventures and animal encounters" with a live audience. |
| So what happened to the old magazine-style shows that dominated Saturday morning television in the late 70s and 80s? | So what happened to the old magazine-style shows that dominated Saturday morning television in the late 70s and 80s? |
| From Swap Shop, through Saturday Superstore, Going Live and then Live & Kicking, the BBC's format remained basically the same. On ITV, Tiswas was followed by The Saturday Show in 1982. | From Swap Shop, through Saturday Superstore, Going Live and then Live & Kicking, the BBC's format remained basically the same. On ITV, Tiswas was followed by The Saturday Show in 1982. |
| But by 2006, when the BBC shifted flagship Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow to BBC2 and moved Saturday Kitchen in the opposite direction, the era of the live magazine show was over. | But by 2006, when the BBC shifted flagship Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow to BBC2 and moved Saturday Kitchen in the opposite direction, the era of the live magazine show was over. |
| "It was big family entertainment and attracted teenagers as well as kids," recalls Paul Smith, the man who entertained six million viewers as Going Live's Gordon the Gopher. | "It was big family entertainment and attracted teenagers as well as kids," recalls Paul Smith, the man who entertained six million viewers as Going Live's Gordon the Gopher. |
| "There was a massive available audience so we could get all sorts of guests to appear. Pop acts wanted to get on because record sales were at their highest on a Saturday afternoon and it could help a song rocket up the charts the next day." | "There was a massive available audience so we could get all sorts of guests to appear. Pop acts wanted to get on because record sales were at their highest on a Saturday afternoon and it could help a song rocket up the charts the next day." |
| The growth of multi-channel broadcasting left terrestrial channels battling for young viewers with 30-plus rivals, including Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. | The growth of multi-channel broadcasting left terrestrial channels battling for young viewers with 30-plus rivals, including Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. |
| And while magazine shows had endeavoured to introduce an educational element, with guests such as Margaret Thatcher or author Roald Dahl, these interviews "weren't going to cut it" against the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants, says Mr Smith. "It's a hard thing to say but that's why they withered, unfortunately." | And while magazine shows had endeavoured to introduce an educational element, with guests such as Margaret Thatcher or author Roald Dahl, these interviews "weren't going to cut it" against the likes of SpongeBob SquarePants, says Mr Smith. "It's a hard thing to say but that's why they withered, unfortunately." |
| Children's habits had also changed. Mumsnet founder Carrie Longton says today's youngsters have much more choice than previously, with many more weekend activity clubs. | Children's habits had also changed. Mumsnet founder Carrie Longton says today's youngsters have much more choice than previously, with many more weekend activity clubs. |
| "In our day you watched Swap Shop, listened to Ed Stewart on the radio, rode a bike or played out," she says. | "In our day you watched Swap Shop, listened to Ed Stewart on the radio, rode a bike or played out," she says. |
| "Now there's always other things to do, like computer games. The majority of families have more than one TV, so one child can be watching CBeebies while another has recorded Britain's Top Model and is watching that in the next room. | "Now there's always other things to do, like computer games. The majority of families have more than one TV, so one child can be watching CBeebies while another has recorded Britain's Top Model and is watching that in the next room. |
| "It's a shame in some ways. The magazine programmes brought people together and were quite safe TV." | "It's a shame in some ways. The magazine programmes brought people together and were quite safe TV." |
| Another key contributor to the shows' demise was the fragmentation of the music industry, when Britpop bands, like Oasis, and dance acts replaced teen-friendly stars of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman era, says Mr Smith. | Another key contributor to the shows' demise was the fragmentation of the music industry, when Britpop bands, like Oasis, and dance acts replaced teen-friendly stars of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman era, says Mr Smith. |
| "A lot of that stuff wasn't right for Saturday morning, so we started to have less influence," he says. | "A lot of that stuff wasn't right for Saturday morning, so we started to have less influence," he says. |
| ITV successfully skirted modern rock stars' reluctance to interact with fans by separating their musical content on CD:UK from Ant and Dec's SM:tv Live show. | ITV successfully skirted modern rock stars' reluctance to interact with fans by separating their musical content on CD:UK from Ant and Dec's SM:tv Live show. |
| Despite outperforming the BBC's Live & Kicking and successor the Saturday Show, its audience of 2.5million still lagged behind earlier favourites. These figures could no longer justify production costs and it ended in 2006. | Despite outperforming the BBC's Live & Kicking and successor the Saturday Show, its audience of 2.5million still lagged behind earlier favourites. These figures could no longer justify production costs and it ended in 2006. |
| In the same year, BBC1's children's coverage was shunted to BBC2 to accommodate Saturday Kitchen, a move the corporation explained was to avoid interrupting the schedule with breaking news or sporting events. Greg Childs, from the Save Kids' TV campaign group, says this move made it easier for ITV to abandon its coverage. | In the same year, BBC1's children's coverage was shunted to BBC2 to accommodate Saturday Kitchen, a move the corporation explained was to avoid interrupting the schedule with breaking news or sporting events. Greg Childs, from the Save Kids' TV campaign group, says this move made it easier for ITV to abandon its coverage. |
| While he accepts Saturday shows had become less tenable, he says they were important in helping children understand the world around them on a level that appealed to them. | While he accepts Saturday shows had become less tenable, he says they were important in helping children understand the world around them on a level that appealed to them. |
| "We lament the loss of that variety and mix in the one programme." | "We lament the loss of that variety and mix in the one programme." |
| With Dick and Dom, the BBC had deliberately stopped trying to appeal to all ages, focusing squarely at pre-teens in an unpredictable melee of slapstick, gunge and gameplay, without guest stars. | With Dick and Dom, the BBC had deliberately stopped trying to appeal to all ages, focusing squarely at pre-teens in an unpredictable melee of slapstick, gunge and gameplay, without guest stars. |
| In 2006, it revived many of the traditional Saturday show features with TMi - albeit without a live studio audience. But its run-time was gradually reduced from two hours 45 minutes to 90 and it has now moved to Friday nights on CBBC. | In 2006, it revived many of the traditional Saturday show features with TMi - albeit without a live studio audience. But its run-time was gradually reduced from two hours 45 minutes to 90 and it has now moved to Friday nights on CBBC. |
| The corporation's latest launch, Live 'n' Deadly, presented by wildlife adventurer Steve Backshall and Naomi Wilkinson, runs for just an hour. Executive producer Wendy Darke says it will take the live audience participation first seen on Swap Shop to a new level. | The corporation's latest launch, Live 'n' Deadly, presented by wildlife adventurer Steve Backshall and Naomi Wilkinson, runs for just an hour. Executive producer Wendy Darke says it will take the live audience participation first seen on Swap Shop to a new level. |
| "I remember thinking 'My goodness, Noel Edmonds is on the phone to some boy and we're watching it on telly'. | "I remember thinking 'My goodness, Noel Edmonds is on the phone to some boy and we're watching it on telly'. |
| "That's so powerful - the excitement of connecting kids - and we'll have live website links through the show, inviting people to set questions and challenges for Steve and send in photos to be shown on air." | "That's so powerful - the excitement of connecting kids - and we'll have live website links through the show, inviting people to set questions and challenges for Steve and send in photos to be shown on air." |
| Segments will show youngsters taking part in outdoor activities, such as scuba diving for "sea monsters", while each week the "Deadly Convoy" will transport the set - and a host of creatures - to different UK cities for the live show. | Segments will show youngsters taking part in outdoor activities, such as scuba diving for "sea monsters", while each week the "Deadly Convoy" will transport the set - and a host of creatures - to different UK cities for the live show. |
| Rather than encouraging viewers to watch for hours, Wendy explains: "We want to catch them at breakfast and inspire them to do something exciting with their weekend." | Rather than encouraging viewers to watch for hours, Wendy explains: "We want to catch them at breakfast and inspire them to do something exciting with their weekend." |
| So, could the traditional Saturday show ever make a comeback? | So, could the traditional Saturday show ever make a comeback? |
| Joe Godwin, director of BBC Children's, argues it has never really been away - just that shows like TMi go unnoticed because they are not on BBC1 or ITV1. | Joe Godwin, director of BBC Children's, argues it has never really been away - just that shows like TMi go unnoticed because they are not on BBC1 or ITV1. |
| "Saturday mornings never died, it's just grown-ups stopped watching them. There'll still be live shows in another 35 years." | "Saturday mornings never died, it's just grown-ups stopped watching them. There'll still be live shows in another 35 years." |
| However, he says three-hour magazines are unlikely to return and we should not mourn their demise. | However, he says three-hour magazines are unlikely to return and we should not mourn their demise. |
| "The chances of someone plonking themselves in front of the telly at 9am and staying until Football Focus are slim. Even if they wanted to they probably wouldn't be allowed. | "The chances of someone plonking themselves in front of the telly at 9am and staying until Football Focus are slim. Even if they wanted to they probably wouldn't be allowed. |
| "I used to be sad about that but we make shows for children, not for nostalgic old farts." | "I used to be sad about that but we make shows for children, not for nostalgic old farts." |
| Live 'n' Deadly is on BBC2 from 0900 BST on Saturdays. | Live 'n' Deadly is on BBC2 from 0900 BST on Saturdays. |
| Add your comments using the form below | Add your comments using the form below |
| Saturday mornings were great when I was a kid - in the 70s into early 80s. Swap shop was the favourite - I used to love it and often phoned in, although I never got through. Shows like that, along with the likes of 'Why Don't You' and 'the Double-Deckers' were so educational as well as entertaining, and covered all ages, including my Dad at the time. Now, it's just silly and doesn't seem to have any educational value, let alone entertainment. Bring back the Swap-Shop format - it's not like there's anything else on that would be lost. | |
| Steve, Iver, Bucks | |
| Just phoned 01 811 8055 and got no answer.....Saturday Morning telly is truly dead! | |
| James, Exeter | |
| Dick and Dom appealing to pre teens? The Geordie Policeman? Bogies? and many other such delights? It was the first programme on a Saturday morning since Tiswas that had parents and children waiting to see what would happen next and having a good laugh whilst doing so. ITV or BBC Saturday morning TV was not watched for several years prior to them making their appearance, and has not been watched since | |
| Brian Capaloff, Falkirk | |
| Never mind Tiswas, anyone else remember the adult spin-off, Over The Top? Late on Saturday night, we even had the entire cast of a university Gilbert & Sullivan Society rush offstage as soon as the Saturday night show was finished to watch even before they'd got out of their costumes! | |
| Megan, Cheshire | |
| Frankly after TISWAS shut up shop, none of the shows were ever worth bothering about... and not one of the BBC shows could hold a candle to Tarrant, James and the phantom flan flinger. | |
| Geo, Glasgow | |
| I can remember the potential results of a live TV show without a 10 second delay which offended many but - I am sure - amused a lot more. There was the phone interview with 5-Star when an irate Scot told them exactly what he thought of their music. There was also the time when Slash from Guns and Roses was interviewed on CD:UK and must have given the producers a heart attack following the stuff he came out with. (Curiously when it was repeated in its late night slot later on in the week, all four-letter words and references to groupies had been cut out!) | |
| Paddy , Liverpool | |
| Let's be honest here. How could you compare Tiswas with a programme that encourages children to swap a brand new action man with a 1000 piece jigsaw that had 100 pieces missing! | |
| Spike, Bath | |
| It's a very tragic thing for all those who grew up waking up in the early hours of the morning eating cereal in front of the TV and watching countless hours of entertainment and joyful programming, to now see it's all gone. The morning shows that use to air on BBC, ITV and then later to Channel 4's T4 in it's early days was something that kept me 'sane' during my childhood and early teens; it gave me something to look forward to each morning, it entertained me and it helped educate me in some cases even making me aware of the world around me. In other words it helped ground me, something that cannot be said for the quality of programming shown today. As far back as I can remember the one thing that all these shows such as Going Live, Tiswas and Live and Kicking shared was a real sense of community and involvement, originality and something fresh which kept viewers loyal to the show for many years which is vital for any network to maintain. That aspect of television however is fading away to low quality mainstream content. | |
| Adam Haider, London | |
| I'm 42 years old, so that makes me an old fart. Children's TV started to go down hill in the late 80s when every cartoon or programme had a toy attached to it in some way. Now it's unfunny American kids' sitcoms or badly dubbed cartoons from Europe or Japan, done on the cheap. Maybe every programme when I was growing up wasn't fantastic. But I feel sorry for kids' TV today | |
| Mark Varty, Portsmouth |