If you grew up in the late 90s/early 00s, Saturday mornings meant one thing: kids’ TV chaos. But which camp were you in?
🌟 SMTV Live (ITV, 1998–2003)
With Ant, Dec and Cat Deeley at the helm, SMTV was pure chaos — the good kind. It felt like being in on a giant inside joke, bowl of cereal in hand.
- Vibe: Silly, sketch-heavy, sleepover energy
- Signature bits: Chums (Friends spoof), Wonky Donkey, Pokémon mania
- Guests: Steps, B*Witched, Britney, Westlife… basically everyone
- Why it stuck: The presenters felt like your mischievous mates
📡 Live & Kicking (BBC, 1993–2001)
The BBC’s big hitter: glossier, a tad “older kid,” and stacked with star power.
- Vibe: Polished, big-show feel
- Signature bits: Electric Circus (tech!), phone-ins, competitions, gunge tanks
- Presenters: Various eras (e.g., Zoe Ball & Jamie Theakston)
- Why it stuck: Felt like the place big names turned up
📺 Diggit (ITV/CITV, 1998–2002)
The Disney-fied option — a cosy pipeline for cartoons and pop.
- Vibe: Disney crossover showcase + competitions
- Presenters: Fearne Cotton, Desune Coleman, Craig Doyle
- Cartoons we remember: Recess, Pepper Ann, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Disney’s Doug
- Why it stuck: Less sketches, more cartoons, still plenty of pop
👉 So… which team were you?
Were you SMTV all the way, loyal to Live & Kicking, or did you secretly prefer the Disney pipeline that was Diggit? Or — be honest — were you flicking channels to catch your fave band or cartoon?
- 🔵 Team SMTV (chaos, sketches, Ant & Dec)
- 🟠 Team Live & Kicking (BBC polish, big stars, gunge)
- 🟢 Team Diggit (Disney vibes, cartoons galore)
- 🟣 Team Remote Control (I flicked between all three!)
Tell me your team in the comments — and your favourite sketch/segment/cartoon memory!
Asten Does Nostalgia 
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