Watch and Smile

How we went from a pinball machine introducing cartoons to a wild-eyed madman hurling liquids over people while cackling, and beyond.

When the OGs of Saturday Morning step aside almost simultaneously, how do we fill the void? With piracy, capitalism, the absence of wrestling and suburban surrealism.

The BBC hit the nail on the head and begin over a decade of undisputed domination. ITV put their faith in a crazed, phlegmy alien, a slightly camp sheep, and Tony Gregory. Meanwhile, summers are full of sketch comedy, Madchester cool and exploding Blue Peter presenters.

Winter to Spring, Saturday Mornings in the 90s belonged to the BBC and Live and Kicking. The Summers belonged to no-one, despite the fierce competition of various sheep, Time Lords and highland cattle. Meanwhile on ITV, a frog discussing urine worries Bugs Bunny.

With Zoe and Jamie at the helm, Live and Kicking becomes so massive that ITV has a complete breakdown. Not even a rubber-haired gurner, a puppet monkey or Andi Peters can save them, so what chance two Byker Grove refugees and a Brummie Amazon?

Ant and Dec (and Cat) murder the BBC. Dani Behr fails to revive them. Celebrity chefs invade the SatAM slot and not even Holly Willoughby can stop them. A genre dies - or does it? Yes. Or doesn't it?