Saturday Superstore
Encyclopedia
Saturday Superstore was a children's television series
, broadcast on BBC1 from 1982 until 1987. It was shown on Saturday mornings with presenters including Mike Read
, Sarah Greene
, Keith Chegwin
and John Craven. The show was very similar to its predecessor Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
.
A regular spot on the show was their children's talent show "Search for a Superstar". The winner of the 1986 search were Claire and Friends
spawning the top twenty hit "It's 'orrible being in love (when you're eight and a half)". In 1987, the contest was won by Juvenile Jazz, which included future OMD
and occasional Stone Roses
keyboard player, Nigel Ippinson
.
Amongst its most memorable moments were the pop group Matt Bianco
being verbally abused by a phone-in caller and The Flying Pickets
offering as a competition prize a tea-towel bearing the face of Karl Marx
.
The presenters released a single entitled "Two Left Feet", though it failed to chart. The theme tune, entitled "Down At The Superstore", was also released by The Assistants, consisting of Dave Edmund, B. A. Robertson
, Cheryl Baker
, Junior and Suzi Quatro
.
Then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
appeared in one show in 1987 leading up to that year's election campaign, making the newspaper headlines when she was repeatedly asked by a girl "where will you be if nuclear war breaks out?".
Mike Smith
stood in for Mike Read for one show in 1983, broadcast from the Play School studio during a strike.
The team were regularly joined by a large puppet called Crow, with his much smaller nephew Malcolm appearing in later series.
In later series agony uncle Phillip Hodson
joined the team.
chatting to Mike Read
and Crow. Mike Read
, John Craven and Keith Chegwin
took part in the 'Now That's What I Call Saturday Mornings Quiz' for the Saturday Superstore part of the show and a selection of clips from the show were shown.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
, broadcast on BBC1 from 1982 until 1987. It was shown on Saturday mornings with presenters including Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
, Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
, Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
and John Craven. The show was very similar to its predecessor Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, more commonly known simply as Swap Shop, is a UK children's television programme. It was broadcast on Saturday mornings on BBC1 for 146 episodes in six series between 1976 and 1982...
.
A regular spot on the show was their children's talent show "Search for a Superstar". The winner of the 1986 search were Claire and Friends
Claire and Friends
Claire and Friends were a UK one-hit wonder, consisting of Stockport schoolgirl Claire Usher and her friends.Their one hit single was with the novelty record "It's 'Orrible Being in Love ", released by BBC Records, which entered the UK Singles Chart on 7 June 1986, and reached #13...
spawning the top twenty hit "It's 'orrible being in love (when you're eight and a half)". In 1987, the contest was won by Juvenile Jazz, which included future OMD
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
and occasional Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
keyboard player, Nigel Ippinson
Nigel Ippinson
Nigel Ipinson-Fleming is a British keyboardist.Ipinson has been with The Stone Roses, playing keys on the alternative version of "Love Spreads" that appeared on the 1995 HELP! Charity album, on one of the remix versions of "Begging You" and throughout the band's Second Coming Tour of 1995 as well...
.
Amongst its most memorable moments were the pop group Matt Bianco
Matt Bianco
Matt Bianco is a UK band that was formed in 1983. They are mainly known for their success in the mid 1980s and their jazz, Latin-flavoured music....
being verbally abused by a phone-in caller and The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella vocal group, who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track "Only You".-History:...
offering as a competition prize a tea-towel bearing the face of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
.
The presenters released a single entitled "Two Left Feet", though it failed to chart. The theme tune, entitled "Down At The Superstore", was also released by The Assistants, consisting of Dave Edmund, B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson is a Scottish musician, actor, composer and songwriter.-Career:...
, Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
, Junior and Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
.
Then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
appeared in one show in 1987 leading up to that year's election campaign, making the newspaper headlines when she was repeatedly asked by a girl "where will you be if nuclear war breaks out?".
Presenters
- Mike ReadMike ReadMichael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
- Sarah GreeneSarah GreeneSarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
- John Craven
- Keith ChegwinKeith ChegwinKeith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
- Maggie PhilbinMaggie PhilbinMaggie Philbin is an English radio and television presenter whose credits include Tomorrow's World and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop.As a child she became interested in science through wanting to become a vet....
Series 1 - David IckeDavid IckeDavid Vaughan Icke is an English writer and public speaker, best known for his views on what he calls "who and what is really controlling the world." Describing himself as the most controversial speaker in the world, he has written 18 books explaining his position, and has attracted a substantial...
(1982-3) - Vicky Licorish (1985-7)
Mike Smith
Mike Smith (television presenter)
Mike Smith is a British television, radio presenter, racing driver, pilot, and businessman.-Radio career:...
stood in for Mike Read for one show in 1983, broadcast from the Play School studio during a strike.
The team were regularly joined by a large puppet called Crow, with his much smaller nephew Malcolm appearing in later series.
In later series agony uncle Phillip Hodson
Phillip Hodson
Phillip Hodson is a British psychotherapist, broadcaster and author who popularised ‘phone-in’ therapy in his role as Britain's first 'agony uncle'. His afternoon and evening counselling programmes ran on LBC Radio in London for nearly 20 years...
joined the team.
It Started With Swap Shop
Saturday Superstore had its own section of the BBC's It Started With Swap Shop in 2006. It featured Keith ChegwinKeith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
chatting to Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
and Crow. Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
, John Craven and Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
took part in the 'Now That's What I Call Saturday Mornings Quiz' for the Saturday Superstore part of the show and a selection of clips from the show were shown.
External links
- British Film Institute Screen Online
- Saturday Superstore at Saturday Mornings