SMTV Live
| SMTV Live | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Presented by | Ant & Dec (1998–2001) Cat Deeley (1998–2002) James Redmond (2001–02) H Watkins (2002) Claire Richards (2002) Brian Dowling (2002–03) Tess Daly (2002–03) Des Clarke (2003) Shavaughn Ruakere (2003) Stephen Mulhern (2003) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 279 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Conor McAnally |
| Producer(s) | David Staite Steve Pinhay |
| Running time | 125 mins |
| Production company(s) | Blaze Television in association with Gallowgate |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV (CITV) |
| Picture format | 4:3 (SDTV) |
| Original release | 29 August 1998 – 27 December 2003 |
SMTV Live (an abbreviation of Saturday Morning Television Live), also stylised as SM:tv LIVE, and in early promotional material SMTV://live, was a British Saturday morning children's television programme, first broadcast on ITV on 29 August 1998 and last broadcast on 27 December 2003.
On the surface, the programme did not seem to stray away from the format of other Saturday morning output, featuring an audience of children, competitions and cartoons, though it constantly won in ratings battles with the BBC's Live & Kicking and became ITV's most successful children's programme since Tiswas. The major success of SMTV Live has been attributed in equal parts to Ant & Dec's original presenting partnership with Cat Deeley, its use of thinly veiled comedic innuendo aimed at older viewers, and its broadcast of the Japanese anime series Pokémon. At the height of its popularity, SMTV Live regularly attracted 2.5 million viewers. Ant & Dec's former company Gallowgate Holdings Limited currently owns the rights to the show.
SMTV Live was originally hosted by Byker Grove stars Ant & Dec alongside former fashion model Cat Deeley. In 2001, Ant & Dec left the show to present Saturday night talent show Pop Idol and were replaced by Hollyoaks star James Redmond. Redmond's stint at SMTV Live lasted just three months however, after show bosses decided he had not settled into the role. Deeley left the show in 2002 to focus on presenting BBC talent show Fame Academy, leaving SMTV with none of its original presenters. For the remainder of the programme, it was hosted by a string of other people, including Steps members H Watkins and Claire Richards, Big Brother winner Brian Dowling, Tess Daly, comedian Des Clarke, actress Shavaughn Ruakere and magician Stephen Mulhern.
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