Joanna Fisher

Joanna Fisher (born 1976) found fame in the UK in the popular if controversial programme Minipops in 1981, with their first series named Mini-pops for new UK broadcaster Channel 4 in 1982. At five years old, she was the youngest member of the group. She often performed solo versions of the popular songs of the day.

One of her performances, as Sheena Easton singing the love song "9 to 5" (aka "Morning Train" in America), attracted an outcry in the media at the time due to the song's lyrics (including: "night time is the right time, we make love") and the choice of make-up and clothes in her performance.

Minipops sung the theme tune to The Wide Awake Club and Wacaday and were regulars on the show. They also appeared many times on TV-am and in Ireland on The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne, as well as making an appearance on Russell Harty's BBC chat-show.

Fisher stayed with the Minipops long after the show's cancellation from UK screens, enjoying further success with the group in Canada where their third album was the third biggest selling album in Canadian history at that time, behind Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton.

The Minipops ran for eight years, making nine albums, with international acclaim, over 27 number one singles, and reaching number two in the album charts in Canada, where the Minipops toured for three weeks, with sell-out concerts in front of audience of up to 20,000 people.

More recently, Fisher's television appearances have included Life After They Were Famous, 2005 documentary Whatever Happened to the Minipops? and as the mystery guest on The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, a lighthearted quiz celebrating the 25th anniversary of Channel 4, screened at the end of 2007. On both occasions she confirmed that she still sings, is still happy with her association with the group and occasionally misses the stardom of her Minipops years.

Fisher has achieved national and international success in the equestrian sport of dressage at Grand Prix level, representing Great Britain whilst being based in Germany. Her results include a Gold Medal in the Nations Cup at Hickstead and being ranked a Class 1 Rider.

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