Last night at the Fat Controller, we were talking about the days when Ant & Dec were the saviours of Saturday Morning Television (Live) and in particular an April Fools joke in 2000 when Dec appeared to have collapsed on the floor. Although when Barry explained what happened it barely made sense.
It also reminds me that a fan of the show has posted some superb videos on Youtube including all the epsiodes of "Chums" the "Friends" spoof which was one of the most popular parts of the show.
One of my favourites apart from "Ant Aid" happens to be the second to last episode from November 2001, featuring Ant & Dec when they go out on a stag night along with Armstrong and Miller, Robbie William's "best mate" Jonathan Wilkes, Armstrong and Miller and Anthony Head where they encounter some paint strippers and "dancers from lapland" much to Cat's dismay.
Also featured is the stunning Samantha Mumba who at the time released the final single from her debut album, which was called "Lately" which was an example of a song that should have been released in the warmer months rather than November.
Moving back to the Ant Aid episode and I swear that design on Ant's t-shirt is the old Tyne Tees logo which would make sense.
The user also has a few rounds of the ever popular "Challenge Ant" including this example with a rather cocky kid taking on the "geordie gasbag". Ant manages to beat his opponent but we do get a rendition of the "You're Thick" chant from Dec after Ant incorrectly guesses the member of Steps going out with Johnny Shentall from the ever successful band "Boom".
The actual answer was Lisa Scott Lee.
It's worth noting however that about one year later Johnny ended up being Kym Marsh's replacement in "Hear'say" and there were rumours at the time that he didn't turn up to the auditions.
However this was around the same time as the Pop Idol final and people were past caring about the band who released just one more single with a slightly "urban angle" to try and outdo the more succesful Liberty X.
The band split shortly after with Myleene making a memorable appearance on
The Frank Skinner Show where she broke down when talking about the abuse she got from the public whilst being in the band.
Oddly enough I can remember at about the same time Kim married then Eastender Jack Ryder and Liberty X were invited as guests but not one member of Hear'say.
Back to Challenge Ant, which after the duo left became resurrected as "Brian's Brain" which was exactly the same format (and theme tune) except it was Brian Dowling put to embarrassment who got really annoyed whenever a question related to Harry Potter was asked.
I can remember one of the killer questions being "What do you put in a toaster?" and he answered "toast" before screaming out "BREAD!" but they took his first answer.
They did bring the original game back for the final show with Ant who ended up winning but they did the song anyway with Ant wearing the dunces hat.
Whilst Ant & Dec continue to be succesfull on all their prime time shows, their sketches and overall presenting of SMTV Live for me was when they were at their funniest although credit has to be given to their writers including Dean Wilkinson, Ben Ward and Gez Foster, the last two used to appear on Live And Kicking with Richie Webb, as Trev and Simon's replacements "The Men In Trousers".
Trev and Simon of course became one of the many uncredited contributors for SMTV's replacement "Ministry Of Mayhem" along with former editor of many a BBC Saturday morning show Chris Bellinger and whilst it had a nervous start, the programme got better after shortening it's name to MOM, the departure of Michael Underwood and the addition of features such as "Name That Tone" and "Ram Ray".
With regards to the latter, if you thought "Hole In The Wall" was bad then the above example makes it look like harmless fun.
And it had the saving grace of Holly Willoughby presenting which I reckon was her second best show after "The Xtra Factor".
Nowadays the excitement of being up early on a Saturday couldn't be further.
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