Saturday Superstore is a British children's television series that aired on BBC1 from 2 October 1982 to 18 April 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, which had ended the previous October–March season following its presenter Noel Edmonds moving away from children's TV to present his prime-time Late Late Breakfast Show.
Content 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-20 hit "It's 'Orrible Being in Love (When You're 8½)". In 1987, the contest was won by Juvenile Jazz, which included future OMD and occasional Stone Roses keyboard-player Nigel Ipinson.
For much of its run, Saturday Superstore retained the same famous phone-in number, 01-811-8055, as its predecessor.
Amongst its most memorable moments were the pop group Matt Bianco being verbally abused by a phone-in caller"Cult: Reviews" bbc.co.uk. 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 Store", was also released by The Assistants, consisting of Dave Edmunds, 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 "In the event of a nuclear war, where will you be?".
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 Chegwin 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.
Transmissions Series Start date End date Episodes 1 2 October 1982 26 March 1983 25 2 1 October 1983 14 April 1984 28 3 29 September 1984 13 April 1985 29 4 28 September 1985 19 April 1986 30 5 27 September 1986 18 April 1987 30
References
External links
British Film Institute Screen Online Saturday Superstore at Saturday Mornings Saturday Superstore on Paul Morris' SatKids