Going Live!

''Going Live!'' is a British children's television series that aired on BBC1 from 26 September 1987 to 17 April 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene. Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Annabel Giles, Phillip Hodson, Emma Forbes, Nick Ball, James Hickish and Mark Chase.

In 1988, when the second series started, Greene was hurt in a helicopter crash with her then boyfriend, who subsequently became her husband, Mike Smith. Guest presenters stood in for her including T'Pau's Carol Decker. Similarly, in 1992–93 during the final series, Schofield was starring in ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' and was unable to present the show. A third presenter took his place. Originally, then Australian soap ''Neighbours'' actor Kristian Schmid took the role but soon left after problems with his work permit. Various other celebrities who stood in included Shane Richie and Robbie Williams during his Take That days.

Some of the cartoons shown on ''Going Live!'' included ''Spider-Man'', '' Thunderbirds 2086'', ''ThunderCats'', '' The Raccoons'', '' Star Wars: Droids'', '' Muppet Babies'', '' Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light'', ''Defenders of the Earth'', '' Fantastic Max'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', '' Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'', ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Alvin and the Chipmunks'', and ''The Pirates of Dark Water''.

Show segments

''Double Dare''

'' Double Dare'' was presented by Peter Simon, and it was best known for Simon to fall, during the final round, into the Gunge. It was replaced in later series of ''Going Live!'', first by ''Clockwise'', presented by Darren Day, and then by '' Run the Risk'', which was again presented by Simon. The latter of these shows continued onto ''Live & Kicking''.

''Growing Pains''

Phillip Hodson provided 'agony uncle' advice to young callers on diverse and often difficult topics in ''Growing Pains''. The topics ranged from love troubles and general teenage angst, to more severe topics such as child abuse and AIDS, which were uncharacteristically deep issues for a Saturday morning youth programme.

''Live Line''

In this segment, the show's producers would arrange for popular musical groups and performers to pay surprise visits to their fans.

''The Press Conference''

The big set-piece interview at the end of each programme, featuring questions from both the studio audience and from phone callers. These were often with politicians, high-ranking executives in the BBC, or people who had made a notable achievement (e.g. sports people who had success at the Olympics).

''The Video Vote''

This was a phone-in section where the viewing public were encouraged to cast their opinions on the popular music videos of the time, which were then shown according to popularity.

Trevor and Simon

These two anchormen (who were essentially clowns) provided light-hearted humour and character comedy. Popular characters played by the duo included:
* 'The Sister Brothers', a pair of rogue traders;
* 'The Singing Corner', a folk duo;
* DJ Mick McMac and rave-goer Moon Monkey;
* 'Blimey, that's good!', a parody of television shopping channels;
* The Bottomless Bin;
* The Witch Finders, who appeared every Halloween to enlist members of the studio audience to hunt 'witches' and other evil-doers. This normally ended up with them poking Phillip with sticks.
* Ken and Eddie Kennedy, a pair of jaunty barbers.

They were replaced in series five by Nick Ball and James Hickish, but returned for the last series.

''It Started With Swap Shop''

''Going Live!'' had their own section on the BBC's ''It Started With Swap Shop'' featuring classic clips of the show. It is presented as elevator employees recalling favoured parts of the show.

Awards

In 1992, the show's opening sequence of a 'colourbars army preparing to Go Live', was nominated for a Bafta Award, created by the BBC Design team consisting of Morgan Almeida, Mark Knight and Paul Baguley.

Transmissions

References

External links

''Going Live!''
at bbc.co.uk
*
British Film Institute Screen OnlineGoing Live!
at Saturday Mornings

on Paul Morris' SatKids

{{British Saturday morning television

BBC children's television shows
1980s British children's television series
1990s British children's television series
1987 British television series debuts
1993 British television series endings
British English-language television shows
British television shows featuring puppetry