opening title card from the tv series no. 73

After Tiswas Came…No.73

No. 73, 1982

No. 73, Saturday morning TV with a twist.

For many years Tiswas, Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore were the must see Saturday morning TV.  in 1980 Television South won the contract to provide ITV coverage for the South of England.  One of the first things they did was to  set up was a children’s department.  The team they put together had a background in theatre and drama.

They decided to produce a Saturday morning show that differed from what had gone before ie the usual Tiswas and Saturday Superstore formula: This show would feature actors in character as hosts, performing their own comedic storyline around the usual guests, music videos, competitions and cartoons.  That show was No.73.

The doors of No 73 opened for the first time in January 1982.  Initially the show was only shown in the South and South East of England (much of the ITV network continued to carry Tiswas).  Two series were broadcast in that year both only the South and South East of England.  It would be August 1983 before the rest of the country were invited in.  No. 73 ran for eight series ending in 1988.

Summary

Presented by Sandi Toksvig and Neil Buchanan.  The show featured actors in character as hosts, performing their own comedic storyline around the usual guests, music videos, competitions and cartoons.

Much of the show was improvised, and a whole week of rehearsals plus an extensive dress rehearsal on Friday preceded each live broadcast on Saturday morning.

Clips

 

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Presented By

Sandi Toksvig
Neil Buchanan

Details

Channel: ITV
Created By: John Dale
Production Company: TV South for ITV
Original transmission Dates: 2nd January 1982 – 2nd January 1988