蜜芽传媒

In June 1995, Britain鈥檚 trashiest television station L!VE TV began broadcasting from its base on the 24th floor of London鈥檚 Canary Wharf building. Launched by Janet Street-Porter, L!VE TV was the pet project of Mirror Group CEO David Montgomery.

From the start it was a weapon in the long and bloody tabloid battle between the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun and the Mirror. Six years earlier Murdoch had set up the satellite-based Sky TV to offset the long-term decline in newspaper sales; Montgomery hoped to hit back through Britain's fragmented but growing cable network.

But following a chaotic launch and high profile rows between L!VE鈥檚 management and board, Street-Porter was ousted by the former sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie who turned Live TV from her dream of 24-hour live fashion, style, news and entertainment, into a tabloid channel aimed at young, male viewers.

Programme ideas were conceived during drink-filled brainstorming sessions. They included a News Bunny who jumped around the newsroom gesturing during broadcasts, Topless Darts, and the weather read in Norwegian by Anne Marie Foss in a bikini. L!VE drew only a small fraction of pay-TV viewers but became famous for being outrageous.

Kirsty is joined by L!VE former Managing Director Kelvin MacKenzie, Norwegian weather girl Anne Marie Foss, launch presenter Rhodri Williams who went on to present the surreal talent show Spanish Archer, double BAFTA award winning producer Ruth Wrigley who was L!VE鈥檚 Head of Outside Broadcasts, presenter and producer Simon London who helped create Topless Darts, and former investment banker Richard Horwood who developed the Mirror Group's television strategy.

Presenter: Kirsty Wark
Producer: Emily Williams
Series Producer: David Prest
A Whistledown production for 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4