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| Minipops | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Martin Wyatt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Mike Mansfield |
| Running time | 30 minutes (including adverts) |
| Production company | Mike Mansfield Enterprises |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 8 February – 15 March 1983 |
Minipops is a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Designed primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits and older classics. The children were usually made to look like the original performers, including clothing and make-up. Controversy over children singing songs that often contained a subtext of adult content (in adult costumes and make-up) led to the show's cancellation after one series.[1][2]
History
Minipops was the brainchild of Martin Wyatt, who created a new child group from London called the MiniPops and released an album in 1982 which reached the top 30 in the UK and Europe. This resulted in a French record label releasing a single from the album, "Stupid Cupid", which was sung by Martin Wyatt's young daughter Jo. The song reached number 1 in France, knocking "Ebony and Ivory" off the top spot.[3]
Head of Entertainment Cecil Korer at Channel 4 and record producer Mike Mansfield embraced the idea of producing a TV show around the MiniPops; Korer believed it would boost and broaden the group's audience appeal. On 4 July 1982, thousands of amateur child performers from across Britain descended on a London theatre for the audition in a search to find additional children to sing and star in the television show with the original five members of the group.[3]
Criticism
The programme began attracting criticism from commentators in the British media for the portrayal of children in this manner.[4] One caller on Channel 4's Right to Reply programme stated, "Minipops should be called MiniWhores. Are you people out of your mind?"[3][5]
Discography
Seven albums were produced and released in the UK, Europe and Canada.
Albums
Before the television show:
- The Mini Pops (1982)[6]
After the television show:
- We're the Mini Pops (1983)[6]
- Christmas (1984)
- Let's Dance (1984)
- Wanna Have Fun (1985)
- Magic Juke Box (1986)
- Rocket to the Stars (1989)
In Canada We're the Mini Pops was successful, becoming the third-highest-selling album in Canada at the time. This prompted the Minipops to hold a three-week tour in 1983, enjoying controversy-free success.[3]
A number of singles were released across Europe.
See also
References
- ^ Tury, Jord (20 December 2021). "10 TV Pilots That Surprisingly Managed To Greenlight A Series". Collider.
- ^ Goodhart, Benjie (8 February 2023). "'It wasn't designed for people with perverted minds': how kids' show Minipops scandalised Britain". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Whatever Happened to the Minipops? (2005). Channel 4
- ^ Westbrook, Caroline (27 June 2015). "12 moments of extreme awkwardness from 80s TV". Metro.
- ^ "Channel 4's legacy of controversy". 6 June 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 368. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.