It’s a show that left its mark on British television, presumably in the form of a custard stain. Tiswas proved Saturday mornings were viable for broadcasting, defied the critics and enraged senior management.
The live micro-budget effort from a tiny studio in Birmingham left a legacy that spawned many imitations and is still fondly talked about today. There are some who say you can find the spirit of Tiswas in later shows like The Tube, The Big Breakfast, The Word, SM:TV Live and Dick & Dom In Da Bungalow. You may be grinning or appalled depending on your view of those shows.
What can’t be denied is that Tiswas went well beyond a typical children’s television show.
