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7 February 2011
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Going Live: Click for More Pictures

Philip Schofield began his presenting career in New Zealand where he fronted the pop show Shazam for TVNZ. He was a regular presenter of live concerts and music award ceremonies there.

For the first series Mark Chase presented the imaginatively titled Mark Chase report. The spot was dropped for the second run.

Emma Forbes won the cookery spot after bombarding the production office with ideas for 'makes'. No doubt they involved empty washing up liquid bottles, as her mother is Nanette 'Fairy' Newman.

The hand that operated Gordon (you mean he wasn't real?) was provided by BBC executive Paul Smith.

In 1990 you could buy your own Gordon for the bargain price of �15. It even came with its own squeak.

In one edition a puppy got very friendly with our Gordon. Watch the hilarious clip here.

"They never really trusted us," Trevor jokes when reminiscing about his Going Live days. "They just wanted two anchors, the smoothie presenter types," he remembers, "it was all a bit Blue Peter really. I'm not sure they understood what we did or why people liked it".

For the final series Trevor and Simon made way for Nick Ball and James Hickish, but they proved so unfunny that public outcry brought Trevor and Simon back when the show metamorphosed into Live and Kicking.

The final series also saw celebrity presenters added to the mix. Philip Schofield needed a lie-in due to his Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat commitments and so Kristian Schmidt (Todd from neighbours) was hired. Unfortunately he couldn't get a work permit, so instead the likes of Shane Ritchie, Robbie Williams and Jason Donovan took turns in presenting the first hour.

Sarah Greene was also unavailable for presenting duties after being in a helicopter crash with Mike Smith. Step forward T'Pau songstress Carol Decker, who co-hosted during the first show of the 1988-89 series. Part of the episode was broadcast from Greene's hospital bed, where the unlucky lass was serenaded by The Proclaimers

The pairing of Annabel Giles and Sarah Greene proved to be so popular that they were snapped up to present the ITV show Posh Frocks and New Trousers the What Not to Wear of the day.

On 29th December 1990, instead of the usual show a pre-recorded pantomime called Scrooge - A Christmas Sarah, featuring the Going Live crew was broadcast. Written by Trev and Simon it featured Sarah Greene as Sarah Scrooge, Philip Schofield as Phil Scratchit, Emma Forbes as Mrs Scratchit, Gordon T. Gopher as Tiny Gordon, Rowland Rivron as Jacob Marley, Norman Lovett as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Susie Blake as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Normski as the Ghost of Christmas Future.

Just before the 16th February 1991 edition of the show Philip and Sarah had the honour of unveiling the new BBC1 ident - the smoke-enhanced see-through globe one.

Going Live Video Clips
Video Cue titles  All four of them - count 'em.
Video The menu  Chipmunks, Kristian Schmidt and Sean Maguire.
Video Mermaid Sarah  The production team blow the budget.
Video The great conquer challenge  Laughing would be cruel.
Video Emma cooks  Who'd have thought cooking could be so fun?
Video Gopher Blind Date  Does Phillip need to buy a new hat?
Video Line 2  Jason and Kylie especially for you.
Video First time on UK TV  Is it Dannii or Kelly?
Video Trev and Simon  We don't do perms!
Video The Singing Corner  Trev and Simon take us to the zoo.
Video Gopher it!  Gordon gets some unwanted attention.

 
 


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