The BBC should bring back Saturday morning kids' shows like Going Live!, Doctor Who head writer says
The BBC should bring back Saturday morning kids' shows like Going Live!, the head writer of Doctor Who has said.
Russell T Davies, who is the showrunner for the BBC1 science-fiction series, suggested that cookery show Saturday Kitchen could be replaced with a show aimed at children.
In previous decades there were a string of popular live children's shows on Saturday Mornings, which also included Live & Kicking, Tiswas, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and SMTV Live.
But in recent years the main channels have largely abandoned this type of programming, instead airing things like cookery programmes.
Russell T Davies (pictured) suggested that cookery show Saturday Kitchen could be replaced with a show aimed at children
In previous decades there were a string of popular live children's shows on Saturday Mornings. Pictured, BBC programme Going Live
The BBC has in recent years aired Saturday Mash-Up, a children's magazine show on Saturday mornings on BBC2, but it has lacked the profile of the classic shows of yesteryear.
Davies said the broadcasters now regarded these type of shows as too costly, saying they are more expensive than they look.
Speaking at a BAFTA event called A Life in Pictures: Russell T Davies, the TV executive said: 'I often look at why don't you have Saturday morning shows like Going Live! and they tried it recently with the Saturday Mash Up.
'But there isn't money for that – they are actually more expensive than they look those shows.
'You do not need another episode of Saturday Kitchen actually, you don't, they've done it all. They've cooked everything.'
He added: 'Why not have something that's got pop bands on and quizzes and competitions. I think it's a big gap in the schedule. But they won't bring that stuff back, it's always been underfunded.'
Davies has previously worked on children's TV, including on shows like Children's Ward on ITV and Old Jack's Boat on CBeebies.
The sixth series of Saturday Mash-Up aired from July to December last year having launched in 2017. There are reportedly plans for a seventh series this year.
Davies said the broadcasters now regarded these type of shows as too costly, saying they are more expensive than they look. (Pictured, Sylvester McCoy, as the Seventh Doctor, and Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush)
During his talk the Doctor Who boss said children's TV was 'always in danger' and 'where the cuts will be made'. He said the success of hit shows like BBC animation Bluey masked the bigger problems.
He added: 'The BBC is the public service broadcaster keeping it going. It will always have cuts. It's always where it will be cut.'
Davies also raised concerns about children's mental health in the age of smartphones. He raised concerns about certain types of social media saying there were 'no rules' which was 'astonishing'.
He said there were children as young as eight watching 'absolute filth' and society had been 'slow' to 'censor' this, before adding it was more a case of education and 'bringing children up properly' than censorship.
The TV writer also admitted that overall the new series was 'not doing that well in the ratings' but that he was trying to make the show 'simpler and younger'.
He said this was working as it was getting a 'massive' audience with under-16s and 16-34-year-olds as well.
