The Ministry of Mayhem

Emma Forbes was the cook on Going Live, and she impressed producers that she became first presenter on Live & Kicking. Jamie had worked in TV before, but nothing major.

Emma didn't actually leave Live & Kicking when Andi did. Origianlly they were just looking for a new male presenter. But during the summer break she decided that she didn't want to continue. SO they found Zoe, wouldn't things have turned out different if Zoe hadn't have come then. And because she didn't have a farewell show like any, she was the first Hot Seat guest of Zoe & Jamie's first series in Sept 1996.

Usually all the presenters chosen for any big saturday morning show have presenting experience, many like Cat Deeley (to SM:tv ) and Emma Ledden (to Live & Kicking 99/00) come from channels like MTV.

SImon Grant was an unusual one. As he was more of an actor. And he impressed producers at his audition with his many voice talents, something I believe Des did, and Des has certainly used many of them.

I think more often than not they look for people that can work well together. Will be good for the show and have a good talent. They obviously believe Steve, Mic and Holly will appeal to a good audience. They know of their talents, and how good they are, and the factor that they have been seen before may make audiences watch if they like a person presenting. Thus why the Saturday Show went with Fearne, as viewers know her, and like her rather than Dani Behr, who no kid would have heard of.

Gavin Scott, get a clue and actually try to be nice rather then trying to get a laugh out of peope (which you didn't).

Andi and Emma were fantastic together, anyone heard there show on Capital FM? They still have the appeal.

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I've heard a rumour that Chris Bellinger will be getting involved in this new ITV saturday show! That would be fantastic if it's true!!

I very much doubt that. Chris was brought out of retirement just to do Xchange. He's been at the beeb for MANY years and isn't about to jump-ship.

I work with him and he's very commited to Xchange. And the BBC for that matter...

Interesting. I didn't think he was that old to retire!

Do you know why he chose to come out of retirment for Xchange? What is it about Xchange that made him want to do it?

Probably for the money! Working as a freelance producer is worth a lot more than being BBC staff.

Also, now that Chris Bellinger is freelance it would be very easy for him to work for this new ITV show. If he does, I think we're in store for something very special in the new year!!

*ahem*

Seems like there MAY have been some substance to these rumours after all...

I eat my words

EDIT: note the word "may" in capitals...

The only problem with Chris Bellinger is that there wasn't much movement in terms of new things when he was in charge of Saturday Morning TV over the decade or so when he did Going Live and Live and Kicking. So I'm a bit weary of what he might come up with, fingers crossed he doesn't go down the route of the tried and tested formula from his era on the Beeb.

I'm trying to see why Saturday Mornings failed on the BBC. Yes there was SM:TV but the guests that were coming on the Beeb were predictable C list celebs. All the best stars were on SM:TV.

Also there's a similar pattern with Noel's House Party with Saturday Mornings. Noel launched the Saturday Morning programme format with Swap Shop, with Going Live being at the height of it was when Noel's House Party was launched. As the 90's went on, Noel 's House Party was starting to show tiredness in the format as so was Live and Kicking and in the year that House Party was axed, Kicking bearly had any limbs to carry on.

I think saturday mornings failed on the BBC because the format didn't change with the times!

Blue Peter is a good example of a programme that feels really out of touch with what the viewer wants to see. Granted a fair number of people watch it but I think that's more to do with habit than the quality of programming!!

Dick and Dom are doing good business because the format is completely different to anything else on childrens' TV at the moment.

I would like to see ITV produce a saturday show that offers a good mix of stuff, from band performances and sketches to gungy games and celeb interviews!

Well hasn't that been done to death?!

Well Emma doesn't. She wants to leave Capital, break contract and all that after working just a month. She got a little big for her boots when she wanted Chris Tarrants job but Capital didn't quite have that plan for her yet and her old station, Heart, don't want her back either!

If you have a better suggestion then I'd love to hear it...!