Saturday Superstore

Infobox Television
show_name = Saturday Superstore


caption =
format = Children's
picture_format = 4:3
runtime = 3hrs 15mins
creator =
starring = Mike Read
Sarah Greene (series 2-5)
Keith Chegwin
John Craven
Phillip Hodson
Maggie Philbin (series 1)
Crow
channel = BBC1
first_aired = 2 October 1982
last_aired = 18 April 1987
num_series = 5
num_episodes =
country = UK
producer =
related =
imdb_id =

"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 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 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/saturdaysuperstore/trivia.shtml] 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?".

Presenters

*Mike Read
*Sarah Greene
*John Craven
*Keith Chegwin
*David Icke (1982-3)
*Vicky Licorish (1985-7)

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.

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.

ee also

* Claire and friends

External links

*imdb title|id=0262987|title=Saturday Superstore
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/442916/ British Film Institute Screen Online]
* [http://www.saturdaymornings.co.uk/superstore Saturday Superstore] at Saturday Mornings