Finding your next obsession
Finding your next obsession
SMTV Live, also stylised as SM:tv LIVE and in early promotional material SMTV://live, is a British Saturday morning children's television programme, first broadcast on ITV on 29 August 1998 and last broadcast on 27 December 2003. On the surface, the programme did not seem to stray away from the format of other Saturday morning output, featuring an audience of children, competitions and cartoons, though it constantly won in ratings battles with the BBC's Live & Kicking and became ITV's most successful children's programme since Tiswas. The major success of SMTV Live has been attributed in equal parts to Ant & Dec's original presenting partnership with Cat Deeley, its use of thinly-veiled comedic innuendo aimed at older viewers, and its broadcast of the Japanese cartoon series Pokémon. At the height of its popularity, SMTV Live regularly attracted 2.5 million viewers. Ant & Dec's company Gallowgate currently owns the rights to the show.
LUXEN Decision Guide
A lighter series choice built around character chemistry, recurring situations, or an easier episode-to-episode rhythm.
Best fit
Who it is for
Best suited to viewers who want something approachable that can work as a relaxed or repeat watch.
Commitment
Long-form commitment · 6 seasons
Use the season and episode count to judge how much time you want to invest.
Start here
Read the synopsis.
Read the synopsis first, then decide whether the longer arc is worth the commitment.
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The series
65 episodes
1998
52 episodes
1999
52 episodes
2000
52 episodes
2001
52 episodes
2002
18 episodes
2003
Cast
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