| Minipops | |
|---|---|
| Format | Children's TV |
| Created by | Martin Wyatt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Mansfield, Mike |
| Running time | 30 minutes (including adverts) |
| Production company(s) | Mike Mansfield Enterprises |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
| Original run | 8 February 1983 – 15 March 1983 |
Minipops was a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Focused primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set, featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits as well as older classics. The children were usually made to look like the original performers, including the clothing and make-up.
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It was the brainchild of Martin Wyatt, who created a new kid 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 the French record label releasing a single from the album, "Stupid Cupid", which was sung by Martin Wyatt's young daughter. The song reached number 1, knocking "Ebony and Ivory" off the top spot.[1]
Head of entertainment at Channel 4 Cecil Korer and record producer Mike Mansfield embraced the idea of producing a TV show around the Minipops. Cecil Korer believed it would boost and widen its audiences appeal. On the 4th July 1982, thousands of amateur child performers from across Britain descended on a London theatre for the audition in the search to find additional children, to sing and star in the television show along with the original five members of the group.[2]
Though the series was a success for Channel 4, gaining two million viewers, little thought had been given to the ethics of child performers, singing songs originally written for older artists and dressing and dancing in a provocative style, often influenced by the original performance. Whilst embraced by children who loved the idea of ordinary children singing and dancing as they did along with their favourite songs, the show sat uneasily with some adults, capped by a performance from five-year-old Joanna Fisher who covered the Sheena Easton song "9 to 5" (known as "Morning Train" in the U.S.) in nightclothes and included the lyrics "night time is the right time, we make love".
In response, the programme started drawing criticism from commentators in the British media who suggested that portraying children in this manner, singing songs that often contained a subtext of adult content, often in unsuitable costumes and heavy make-up, was somewhat sinister (one caller on Channel 4's Right to Reply programme fumed, "Minipops should be called MiniWhores. Are you people out of your mind?").[3] Also, the Daily Mail claimed that the Minipops were partly responsible for "the slaying of childhood". The following is an excerpt from The Observer article of 27 February 1983:
"Is it merely priggish to feel queasy at the sight of primary school minxes with rouged cheeks, eye make-up and full-gloss lipstick belting out songs like torch singers and waggling those places where they will eventually have places? The final act of last week's show featured a chubby blonde totlette, thigh-high to a paedophile, in a ra-ra skirt and high heels; her black knickers were extensively flashed as she bounced around singing the words 'See that guy all dressed in green/He's not a man, he's a loving machine.' Kiddie porn, a shop-window full of junior jailbait? And does the show thrust premature sexual awareness onto its wide-eyed performers?"
The child cast and the show's creators were somewhat shocked at the response and its misinterpretation despite the ratings success. When Cecil Korer was replaced by Mike Bolland as head of entertainment for Channel 4, he cancelled the plans for a second series.
Seven albums were produced and released, in the UK, Europe and Canada.
Before the television show
After the television show
In Canada, the album 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, with them enjoying controversy-free success.[5]
A number of singles were released across Europe.
On 11 October 2005, Channel 4 screened a follow up programme called Whatever Happened to the Minipops?. This featured a history of the show, with interviews from the former Minipops and crew, and a reunion at the original theatre where the programme was filmed.
During 1994, the BBC comedy The Day Today, parodied the Minipops, in which the satirical news programme advertised a fictional 'Attitudes Night' on BBC2, which looked back at past television shows to illustrate how attitudes have changed. One such example was the programme "Kiddystare, Channel Four, 1983" in which nude toddlers romped for the pleasure of adults.
In 2007 on Channel 4, Joanna Fisher made a short appearance as a mystery guest in this Channel 4 anniversary quiz show in December 2007. Two of three teams correctly guessed she was a past performer from Minipops.