SMTV Live facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SMTV Live |
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| Presented by | Ant & Dec (1998-2001) Cat Deeley (1998-2002) Brian Dowling (2001-2003) Tess Daly (2001-2003) James Redmond (2002) Ian H. Watkins (2002) Claire Richards (2002) Shavaughn Ruakere (2003) Des Clarke (2003) Stephen Mulhern (2003) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 279 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Conor McAnally |
| Producer(s) | David Staite Steve Pinhay |
| Production location(s) | The London Studios (1998--2002) Riverside Studios Scotland (2002-2003) |
| Running time | 125 mins |
| Production company(s) | Blaze Television in association with Gallowgate |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV ITV2 |
| Picture format | 4:3 (SDTV) |
| Original release | 29 August 1998 – 27 December 2003 |
SMTV Live was a super popular British TV show for kids. It aired every Saturday morning on ITV in the United Kingdom. The name SMTV was short for Saturday Morning Television Live.
The show started on August 29, 1998, and ran for five years. Its last episode was on December 27, 2003. Over these years, more than 270 episodes were made. SMTV Live was a lot like other Saturday morning shows for kids, such as Live & Kicking on the BBC.
SMTV Live was famous for its funny sketches, exciting competitions, and fun challenges. It also showed popular children's cartoons. The show was a huge hit! It helped make presenters Ant & Dec (Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly) and Cat Deeley very famous. It also helped make the Japanese cartoon Pokémon super popular in Britain.
Some of the most memorable parts of SMTV Live included sketches based on Pokémon. There was also a phone-in game called "Wonkey Donkey." Another popular segment was CD:UK, a music show that aired right after SMTV Live. The show was very popular with viewers, often getting around 2.5 million people watching.
After the show ended, Ant & Dec's company kept the rights to SMTV Live. In 2017, they thought about making a special 20th anniversary show with Cat Deeley. However, this idea was later dropped.
On December 26, 2020, a special TV show called The Story of SM:TV Live aired. In this show, Ant, Dec, and Cat looked back at their time on SMTV Live. Also, a famous sketch from the show called "Chums" was brought back. It was recreated for an episode of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway in March 2021. This special "Chums" episode continued a story from 20 years ago.
Contents
How the Show Worked
SMTV Live was a live TV show, meaning it was broadcast as it happened. It was on for over two hours every Saturday morning. The show had a live audience of children and often featured celebrity guests, including music bands.
The show was a mix of different parts. There were studio segments with the presenters, funny sketches, and exciting competitions. Viewers could even call in for some of the games. These parts were shown in between regular children's cartoons and live-action shows.
Shows Featured on SMTV Live
SMTV Live showed many different cartoons and live-action programs. Here are some of the shows that were featured:
- Cow and Chicken (1998–1999)
- The Angry Beavers (1998)
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1998–2003)
- Dexter's Laboratory (1998–1999)
- Power Rangers in Space (briefly in 1999)
- Pokémon (1999 to 2001 & 2003)
- Digimon (2000–2002)
- Men in Black: The Series (1998–1999)
- Bernard's Watch (2001)
- My Parents Are Aliens (2001)
- Clueless (2001–2002)
- Starstreet (2001)
- Popstars Ireland (2002)
- Hey Arnold! (2002)
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-2003)
- Sitting Ducks (2002)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (2003)
- The Flintstones (2003)
- Girls in Love (2003)
- That's So Raven (2003)
- All Grown Up! (2003)
Funny Sketches
The presenters often performed many funny sketches during the show. Most of these were done by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, with help from Cat Deeley. Many sketches made fun of other TV shows. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Dec Says
This sketch was about Declan Donnelly answering a letter from a made-up viewer with a problem. He would then tell a story about how he dealt with a similar problem in the past. But Ant McPartlin would remember the story differently! The "real story" often showed Dec as a mischievous schoolboy called "Downright Dirty Donnelly." He would get into trouble, often with a celebrity guest playing a character. Cat Deeley sometimes appeared as "Cat the Dog," a schoolgirl with messy hair and a strong accent. Ant sometimes played "Gi-ant," an overweight boy who ate a lot.
Later, this sketch was called "The Secret of My Success." After Ant & Dec left, it became "The Further Adventures of Cat the Dog."
Chums
"Chums" was a funny parody of the American TV show Friends. In this sketch, Declan Donnelly and Cat Deeley had a romance. Ant McPartlin would often have a serious problem, and celebrity guests would join in. The sketch was known for its funny opening line and ending with a "freeze-frame" moment, like in the show Police Squad!. Even though it was a series, most stories were separate, except for the romance between Dec and Cat.
In March 2021, "Chums" was brought back for a special live episode. It was part of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to celebrate 20 years since its final episode on SMTV Live.
PokéRap and Pokéfight
These sketches were based on the popular Pokémon cartoon that SMTV Live often showed. Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly performed them between 1998 and 2001.
The "PokéRap" sketches showed Ant and Dec as rappers. They would rap about different Pokémon names while wearing special knitted Pokémon jumpers. Viewers could even send in their own raps. Celebrity guests would sometimes join in too.
The "Pokéfight" sketch was also mostly done by Ant and Dec. They played funny versions of the main characters from the Pokémon anime. They would "fight" using "Pokémon" named after the moves they did to each other. For example, "Embarrassmon" was when one person told a secret about the other. The sketch often had cool graphics that looked like the Pokémon video game.
Eminemmerdale
This was a funny sketch that made fun of the American rapper Eminem and the British soap opera Emmerdale.
Main Features and Games
Besides sketches, SMTV Live also had many competitions and other fun parts. Some prizes were really big, like holidays! Here are some of the most famous segments:
Postbag
This part of the show was for reading out letters and fan mail from viewers. It often started with the presenters, guests, and audience dancing to the song "Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters.
One time, on April 1, 2000 (April Fool's Day), Declan Donnelly played a prank. He pretended to faint during the "Postbag" segment. The show then went to a cartoon, but after a commercial break, Dec revealed it was all a joke!
Another time, Ant McPartlin had to read a funny story from a viewer that made him laugh so much he couldn't stop. It was kept as a funny blooper.
Magic
Many episodes had guest magicians who performed amazing tricks. Cat Deeley often helped them as an assistant. She was frequently involved in the "Sawing a woman in half" illusion. After Cat left in 2002, Tess Daly took over as the magic assistant.
Wonkey Donkey
This was a very popular phone-in game for viewers. It was a bit like the game show Catchphrase. Contestants had to say two words that rhymed to describe an object shown on screen. For example, the game's name "Wonkey Donkey" described a toy donkey with one leg missing.
Before the game, the presenters would show an example. Then, up to five viewers would call in. Declan Donnelly would often pretend to get angry if a young contestant couldn't guess the answer. The famous phrase for the game was "It's gotta rhyme!" If no one guessed correctly, the prize would roll over to the next week.
Challenge Ant
This was a game where a child from the audience challenged Ant McPartlin. Declan Donnelly would host. The child would ask Ant ten questions they had prepared, usually about celebrity news. If Ant couldn't answer a question correctly within ten seconds, the child won a prize.
After the ten questions, the child could gamble their prizes for a big "star prize." They would ask Ant one more question. If Ant got it wrong, the child won all their prizes. But if Ant answered correctly, all the prizes went into a competition for viewers. Later, kids who lost got a special handkerchief that said "I lost on Challenge Ant."
After Ant & Dec left, Cat Deeley took over this game, calling it "Brian's Brain," with Brian Dowling as the one being challenged.
Eat My Goal
This was another phone-in competition. Viewers would choose a celebrity, who would then take penalty kicks against Ant McPartlin, who was the goalkeeper. Declan Donnelly hosted this game. Later, Brian Dowling became the goalkeeper. Tess Daly and Stephen Mulhern also hosted this game. In 2003, the game changed so that a different celebrity each week would represent two teams and take turns being the goalkeeper.
CD:UK
Right after SMTV Live, a music show called CD:UK aired. CD:UK stood for CountDown United Kingdom. This show used the same studio and had the same presenters as SMTV Live. It featured popular bands from the UK Singles Chart, music videos, and interviews with famous music stars. CD:UK continued even after SMTV Live ended, finally finishing in April 2006.
Who Presented SMTV Live?
SMTV Live first started with Byker Grove stars Ant & Dec and former fashion model Cat Deeley.
In 2001, Ant & Dec left the show to host the Saturday night talent show Pop Idol. They were replaced by Hollyoaks actor James Redmond. However, James only stayed for three months because the show's bosses felt he didn't quite fit the role.
Cat Deeley left in 2002 to host the BBC talent show Fame Academy. This meant none of the original presenters were left on SMTV Live. For the rest of its run, many other people hosted the show. These included Steps members Ian "H" Watkins and Claire Richards, Big Brother winner Brian Dowling, and Tess Daly. They all presented from 2002 until they left in 2003.
For the show's final run, it was renamed SMTV:Gold. During this time, comedian Des Clarke, New Zealand actress Shavaughn Ruakere, and magician Stephen Mulhern presented. SMTV:Gold focused on showing the best bits and highlights from the past five years of the show.
Behind the Scenes
The show had many talented people working behind the scenes. The first month of the show was produced by Ric Blaxill. He was then replaced by Steve Pinhay. David Staite produced SMTV Live from 1999 to 2003.
The show was written by Richard Preddy, Gary Howe, and Dean Wilkinson. Dean Wilkinson stayed with the show until the end. In September 1999, Ben Ward and Gez Foster joined from the rival BBC show Live & Kicking. They helped create semi-scripted parts like 'Chums'. SMTV Live became more popular than Live & Kicking in October 1999 and stayed that way.
Conor McAnally was the executive producer for SMTV Live.
SMTV Gold Specials
Because fewer people were watching in 2003, the show was set to end. To mark its final run, SMTV Live aired a series of SMTV Gold specials. These shows featured highlights from the past, along with cartoons. Stephen Mulhern and Des Clarke hosted these specials, with different celebrity co-hosts each week. The Gold series ended on December 20, 2003. The very last SMTV Live episode aired on Saturday, December 27, 2003.
The Final Episode
On December 27, 2003, the grand finale of SMTV Live aired. All the presenters sang a version of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra as the credits rolled. For the big ending, there was a special fireworks display that spelled out "SMTV Live 1998-2003." Flashback voices from Ant, Dec, and Cat were also heard. The screen then faded, and SMTV Live ended after five and a half years.
Video Releases
SMTV Live had two video releases:
- The first was called Chums and came out in 2000. It had six full "Chums" episodes and other funny parts from SMTV. It was later released on DVD.
- The second was called The Best of SMTV Live So Far and was released in 2001. It had special new introductions filmed by Ant & Dec just before they left. It also included a longer collection of sketches and segments.
Awards and Recognition
SMTV Live won many awards!
- It was voted Best Entertainment Programme twice at the BAFTA Children's Film and Television Awards (in 2000 and 2002).
- It also won BAFTA and British Comedy awards that were voted for by the public.
Ant & Dec won the Royal Television Society award for best presenter in 2001 for their work on the show. Cat Deeley won the BAFTA for best children's presenter in the same year.
In 2014, SMTV Live was ranked 5th on Channel 5's list of 50 Greatest Kids TV Shows. In 2001, it was ranked 27th in a Channel 4 poll for the 100 Greatest Kids' TV Shows.
Reunion Special
On September 4, 2020, Ant & Dec shared exciting news on BBC Radio 2. They said they had filmed a special reunion episode with Cat Deeley. In this show, the three of them would look back at the best moments from SMTV. Cat Deeley later said that they went back to the original studio where the show was filmed, and the producers even rebuilt the old set!
Later that month, Ant & Dec shared a sneak peek on Instagram. ITV confirmed that the reunion show, called The Story of SM:TV Live, would air on December 26, 2020.
