Popworld
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox television
| image = PopworldC4.png
| creator = Robert Dodds
Simon Fuller
| presenter = Miquita Oliver
Simon Amstell
Alex Zane
Alexa Chung
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| runtime = 45 minutes
| company = Eyeworks
| network = Channel 4
| first_aired = {{start date|2001|01|21|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2007|07|14|df=yes}}
}}
Popworld is a British television programme that was broadcast on Channel 4 as part of the T4 strand, featuring pop news, trivia, gossip, interviews and music videos, as well as musical performances from contemporary artists.
The show began on 21 January 2001 and was initially presented by Miquita Oliver and Simon Amstell. Alex Zane and Alexa Chung took over the hosting role in 2006. Popworld was broadcast every Sunday morning on Channel 4 at 10:30am,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/nov/30/broadcasting.arts|title=The new TOTP? Get up early on Sunday|last=Freeman|first=Hadley|date=30 November 2004|work=The Guardian}} and repeated on E4 at 2:00pm the following day.
On 27 April 2007, Channel 4 announced they would not be recommissioning the show, and after six years on air, Popworld ended on 14 July 2007.{{cite news |last=Welsh |first=James |date=27 April 2007 |title=Channel 4 axes 'Popworld' |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a45795/channel-4-axes-popworld/ |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}
History
Popworld began in 2000 as a website founded by pop mogul Simon Fuller, and the accompanying show (first transmitted daily at teatime on E4) was originally intended for a pre-adolescent audience.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jan/18/15th-anniversary-of-popworld|title=Bring back Popworld: the music show fans loved and celebrities feared|last=Robinson|first=Peter|date=18 January 2016|work=The Guardian}} The show's original hosts were Nickelodeon presenter Simon Amstell and 16-year-old Miquita Oliver. The original ratings for the programme were dismal, but as Amstell and Oliver gradually warmed to each other (their relationship was strained in the early days) and had greater control of what they could say, the ratings improved.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/01/miquita-oliver-and-simon-amstell-on-popworld-turning-20|title='God, I never thought we'd be this old!': Miquita Oliver and Simon Amstell on Popworld turning 20|last=Freeman|first=Hadley|date=1 May 2021|work=The Guardian}} Popworld finally made it on to T4 (Channel 4's youth strand) in the spring of 2001. In the early series, the show featured Leigh Francis as the character Barry Gibson.{{cite web |title=Who is Keith Lemon? Real name and family life revealed |url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/celebrities/keith-lemon-real-name-family/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Heart |date=18 December 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuH-O6D0zs|title=Leigh Francis as Barry Gibson on T4s Pop World|date=3 May 2021 |via=www.youtube.com}}
During Amstell and Oliver's tenure on the show, it often used surreal humour and small references to Jewish culture in the United Kingdom; for example, Amstell had been shown reading The Jewish Chronicle, as well as making references to festivals and customs. Since its inception, the show gradually grew more and more dry and sarcastic, with singers and bands being subtly, and by 2004 more overtly, mocked. By the end of Amstell and Oliver's tenure on the show, it had gained a cult following as the alternative to limitlessly enthusiastic programmes such as Top of the Pops. Notable events that occurred during their tenure included openly gay Amstell coming on to homophobic reggae star Beenie Man, and Britney Spears walking out of an interview in tears.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/popworld-irreverent-music-show-6111761.html|title=Popworld: the irreverent music show|last=Davis|first=Johnny|date=14 January 2006|work=The Independent}} The Kooks refused to do an interview on their second appearance on the show, after Amstell's repeated references to the singer's ex-girlfriend Katie Melua during their first interview.{{Cite web |last=Soghomonian |first=Talia |date=2012-05-16 |title=Come Back 'Popworld', TV Needs You |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/come-back-popworld-tv-needs-you-770328 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
In February 2006, Amstell and Oliver announced they would be leaving the show.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/09/popandrock.channel4|title=Bands on the run|last=Ellen|first=Barbara|date=9 April 2006|work=The Observer}} Following their departure episode, Alex Zane and Alexa Chung took over presenting until its series finale in July 2007.
Magazine
Popworld launched a magazine of the same name in 2003, but production was stopped after just one year.
In late 2006, it was announced that Popworld was launching a weekly magazine called Popworld Pulp. 130,000 copies were produced for launch, which took place in April 2007. After only a week, it was axed due to selling only 7% of its newsagent allocation, despite a £1.49 cover price and a wide promotional campaign.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6571291.stm|title=Pop magazine axed after one week|date=19 April 2007|publisher=BBC News}} Two weeks later, the show, too, announced it was ending.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.popworld.com Popworld website]
- [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/t4/microsites/P/popworld/ Popworld] at Channel4.com
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274277/ Internet Movie Database entry]
Category:Channel 4 original programming
Category:Pop music television series
Category:2001 British television series debuts
Category:2007 British television series endings
Category:2000s British music television series
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios