Join Chris Tarrant, Sally James, Lenny Henry as both David Bellamy and Trevor McDoughnut (among others), Bob Carolgees, Spit the Dog, the mischievous Phantom Flan Flinger, John Gorman and a whole host of other eccentric entertainers and nobodies in the eagerly anticipated retro-children's TV DVD release of the year - The Best of TISWAS (Today is Saturday Wear a Smile) - on 3rd October 2005. Watching three specially compiled shows containing bucket loads of water, heaps of compost and endless dying fly routines will bring out the kidult in you and quite possibly leave you certifiable, or at the very least get you thrown into the cage.
Created in 1974 and spanning a decade, TISWAS was the first children's show to successfully bridge the gap between adults and children. The programme did not patronise the latter and delivered the perfect mix of pop music, cartoons, sport, comedy, child-friendly information to fend off the dullards at the I.B.A and MAYHEM! The straights watched Noel's multi-coloured, bad sweater Swap Shop and naughty kids (and adults) watched TISWAS. Initially broadcasting in the Midlands area on ATV, TISWAS' anarchy and success was then transferred nationwide with slapstick guests and entertainers such as Jasper Carrott, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Bernard Manning making up a mere fraction of the interesting guests who happened to appear on the show.
Just as Chris Tarrant said "This is what they want", so Network has listened to its customers to say "This is what you want" - and here it is. And we love it. This release proves why children's TV was never the same again and why TISWAS proved to be the inspiration for the likes of SMTV: LIVE and zoo TV such as TFI: FRIDAY. Thirty-one is the new twenty-one so there is no time like the present for the people who grew up with TISWAS to look back on the programme that is now a fully-fledged adult.
Priced at just £14.99, this is a long overdue release of this classic Satruday morning childrens show, and will replace my very worn out videos that were released over ten years ago. With a total running time of around 155 minutes, there is significantly more material than previously available, and shouldn't be missed!