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Not a bad idea - though, as you say, the execution wasn't the best.

Would've been nice to have seen this done occasionally. An opportunity to hear something of the personality of the BBC network announcer, which the standard junctions didn't reveal too much about.

Had no idea about this. Shame he didn't upload this to his YT channel. Maybe he could be persuaded...

Found the SMTV Live on the day of the last ever Live and Kicking.

First show after 9/11 too, with Cat stuck in New York.

Last appearance of Steve Dunnybreath. (Save for the “Best Of” VHS).

Wasn’t as good as Captain Justice from the year before.

Someone either didn’t pay their Sky bill or their Satellite receiver was playing up. From the Encryption side of things, I’ve never seen the picture scramble and unscramble so frequently.

Maybe whoever recorded that was deliberately taking the card in and out to make that happen. I remember doing that at my aunt's.

Must have been one of the last, if not the last, CD:UK to use those titles and the "Countdown UK" chant at the end of each performance? I think the SM:TV theme tune changed at the same time.

I always get suprised how young Alex Kew looked too, he's the same age as me, but he could easily pass for 12 here, not 15.

This was the era when they would always take off the regular features for the summer and bring them back on the same day the Beeb's Saturday morning shows returned - I remember in 2000 Chums, Challenge Ant and the rest all came back on the same day as the revamped Live and Kicking began.

I guess that’s possible, but I’m sure you’d be more likely to get a ‘Please Insert Card’ message instead.

Try inserting and ejecting a viewing card from a SkyQ box now, you wouldn’t be able to do it in the speed shown on that clip.

Yes, they launched new versions of the them to coincide with the launch of The Saturday Show. I recorded the 15/09 show hoping for some mention of L&K on the other side but, unless anyone wants to correct me, couldn't spot any - possibly the events of the week putting it into context. Meanwhile with the grim reaper fast approaching L&K had given up turning the other cheek and had spent the summer putting things like ANYOLDRUBBISH:TV in the corner of the screen during sketches (somewhat ironically when you think about it).

That wouldn't generate a "This Channel is Blocked" message though, would be more likely to show a "Insert Viewing Card" or similar upon removal of the card.

There's a buzzing noise that occurs during the videoguard segments, but AFAIK that encryption method doesn't normally affect audio.