No. 73(1982)

No. 73 was a British children's television series that aired live on Saturday mornings from 1982 to 1988 on ITV. Produced by Television South for the South of England region, the show starred Sandi Toksvig, Neil Buchanan, Andrea Arnold, Kim Goody and Richard Waites. Unlike the sketch-comedy format of rival Saturday morning programmes, No. 73 featured its hosts as characters performing an improvised comedic storyline that wove together music videos, guest appearances, competitions and cartoons. The format demanded rigorous preparation: each week included five days of rehearsals followed by an extensive dress rehearsal on Friday before the live Saturday broadcast. Created by a team with theatre and drama backgrounds, the show's blend of character-driven comedy and traditional children's entertainment made it a distinctive entry in 1980s British kids' television.