This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.
Imagine the excitement its just before 9.30am on Saturday 2nd October 1976.
Its almost like Christmas has come early, such is the anticipation.
28 year old Noel is cool and down with the kids.
EarlyTISWASwas simply a machine for linking programmes on ATV in Birmingham.
Indeed, it wasnt until 1979 thatTISWASwas networked.
Both programmes owed much to shows likeZokko!
The BBC were serving children very well on weekday afternoons.
If you were lucky, something more current likeMr Bennor the slapstickHere Come The Double Deckersmade an occasional appearance.
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Multi-Coloured Swap Shopwas the brainchild of Rosemary Gill, who became its editor.
She came up with the swapping motif as the list of things children could swap was practically endless.
Hosted by Leslie Mitchell, it was aimed at an adult audience and went out at 10.30pm.
Both worked onBlue Peterand the venerable magazine shows educational values were certainly reflected in the new programme.
Once established,Swap Shop, likeBlue Peter, produced a regular book (never annual!).
Gill decided to try him out on the OB section of the show.
The series ended at the beginning of March after 20 weeks on air.
A template had been set.
Actually, for the first series the number was 01- 288 8055, but few recall that one.
Around 9.32 he would ask Where are you Keith?
You then had a chance to win the top ten singles by answering a question.
Noel nicknamed an unseen operator in the gallery Eric.
John Craven would present a News Swap just after ten.
Maggie Philbin was the shows roving reporter, sometimes popping up with Cheggers on the Swaporama.
and Lis on show one, which can be found on the DVD ofThe Hand Of Fear.
These editions were a real treat.
Sometimes it would be a trip to the famous BBC canteen to see who was there.
Often it was the unexpected celebrity appearances that would make these walkabouts.
Swap Shopitself eventually closed in March 1982 after 146 editions.
He was paired with Mark Curry, ostensibly Keith to Powells rather laid back Noel.
In 1987 the BBC changed tack with a show travelling to various locations.
; much like the catchphrase this had a short shelf life.
Alternating withGoing Live!in the summer of 1988 and 1989 wereOn The WaterfrontandUP2U.
The show was moved to Sundays on BBC2 to capitalise on the enduringly popular reruns ofGrange Hill.
The obscurely titledSaturday Aardvarkheld the fort on BBC1 on Saturdays; eventually it was retitledPlanet Saturday.
Suddenly, in the wake of the all-conqueringSM:TVLive,Fully BookedbecameFBi.
Yet in an intriguing move,Basils Swap Shopresurrected the swapping theme.
Next cameNumber 73, one of the best ITV Saturday shows.
This featuredArt Attacks Neil Buchanan and future award-winning film director Andrea Arnold on roller skates!
Best of all was the legendary Sandwich Quiz hosted by up and coming comedian Sandi Toksvig.
Next cameGhost Trainwith Jenny Powell and former Eastender Paul J. Medford.
Andy Crane defected from the Broom Cupboard to hostMotormouthalongside a preBig BreakfastGaby Roslin.
Sadly, as I was researching this article, news came in that Disney had wipedMotormouthin its entirety.
Next cameTelegantic Megavision/Its Not Just Saturday, then the Sophie Aldred hostedWOW!/The Noise.
The kids of 1976 might catch the end ofBreakfastand perhaps someSaturday Kitchen.
Its just not the same though where has all the Saturday morning TV fun gone?
