Saturday Morning TV

On 1 October 2006, The Sound of Sunday celebrated 30 years of Saturday morning TV.  From Swap Shop to TMi and then on to Basil and Barney's Swap Shop and beyond, Saturday mornings have entertained millions over the last three decades and started many things on TV that we take for granted.

The BBC seemed to have forgotten the anniversary, but with the help of Maggie Philbin, Mitch Johnson and Trevor and Simon who all joined us for the show, along with some classic clips, we made sure that the last three decades of Saturday morning TV were most definitely remembered.

But then came the news that the BBC would be celebrating 30 years of Saturday mornings with a very special show over Christmas of that year.

Noel Edmonds was reunited with his Swap Shop co-hosts and many more stars of the last 30 years plus those that have actually taken part in the shows for a very special one-off edition of Swap Shop.

The show was on BBC TWO in December (2006) and there are some more details and publicity photos at www.saturdaymornings.co.uk right now!  The show was also repeated on BBC FOUR in May 2007 as part of their Children's TV week.  3.89 people watched the show when it was originally shown making it the most watched show on BBC TWO that Christmas..

We were at the recording and I can tell you it was a great evening with a fantastic atmosphere in the studio.  There were a few surprises and lots of familiar faces from the last 30 years.  For anyone who has enjoyed any of Saturday morning TV since 1976, it was a show not to be missed!  The atmosphere even continued on the tube afterwards – I'm sure some people must have been wondering what all those people wearing Swap Shop hats were doing!

Click here to read the article that appeared in the HRB magazine and in the HBA's On Air magazine.