WOW!

WOW! was a children's entertainment magazine programme, broadcast in 1996 on the UK's ITV television network. It aired for 16 weeks from 31 August to 14 December 1996, preceded by the Summer 1996 run of Scratchy & Co. and followed by the spring 1997 run of the same show. The presenters of WOW! were Simeon Courtie and Sophie Aldred. The programme was broadcast from The Maidstone Studios in Kent, also home over the years to shows such as No. 73, Motormouth, and Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown. The programme was produced by The Media Merchants for ITV. The show was a live, anarchic, entertainment magazine similar to Tiswas or Motormouth. It featured imported cartoons, guest interviews and music performances, games and competitions, and comedy. Comic characters featured within the show included the 'Tea Ladies' - played by male actors Peter Cocks and Woody Taylor - supposedly 'interrupting' the show to provide banter and bicker with the guests; and Syd the Spider, a puppet arachnid voiced by Phil Cornwell.