Minipops

<i>Minipops</i>

Minipops

1983 British television series

For other uses, see Mini pops.

Minipops is a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Designed primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits and older classics. The children were usually made to look like the original performers, including clothing and make-up. Controversy over children singing songs that often contained a subtext of adult content (in adult costumes and make-up) led to the show's cancellation after one series.[1][2]

Quick Facts Minipops, Created by ...

History

Minipops was the brainchild of Martin Wyatt, who created a new child 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 a French record label releasing a single from the album, "Stupid Cupid", which was sung by Martin Wyatt's young daughter Jo. The song reached number 1 in France, knocking "Ebony and Ivory" off the top spot.[3]

Head of Entertainment Cecil Korer at Channel 4 and record producer Mike Mansfield embraced the idea of producing a TV show around the MiniPops; Korer believed it would boost and broaden the group's audience appeal. On 4 July 1982, thousands of amateur child performers from across Britain descended on a London theatre for the audition in a search to find additional children to sing and star in the television show with the original five members of the group.[3]

Criticism

The programme began attracting criticism from commentators in the British media for the portrayal of children in this manner.[4] One caller on Channel 4's Right to Reply programme stated, "Minipops should be called MiniWhores. Are you people out of your mind?"[3][5]

Discography

Seven albums were produced and released in the UK, Europe and Canada.

Albums

Before the television show:

  • The Mini Pops (1982)[6]

After the television show:

  • We're the Mini Pops (1983)[6]
  • Christmas (1984)
  • Let's Dance (1984)
  • Wanna Have Fun (1985)
  • Magic Juke Box (1986)
  • Rocket to the Stars (1989)

In Canada 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, enjoying controversy-free success.[3]

A number of singles were released across Europe.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Tury, Jord (20 December 2021). "10 TV Pilots That Surprisingly Managed To Greenlight A Series". Collider.
  2. [2]
    Goodhart, Benjie (8 February 2023). "'It wasn't designed for people with perverted minds': how kids' show Minipops scandalised Britain". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  3. [3]
    Whatever Happened to the Minipops? (2005). Channel 4
  4. [4]
    Westbrook, Caroline (27 June 2015). "12 moments of extreme awkwardness from 80s TV". Metro.
  5. [5]
    "Channel 4's legacy of controversy". 6 June 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. [6]
    Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 368. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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