Minipops

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Minipops is a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Designed primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits and older classics. The children were usually made to look like the original performers, including clothing and make-up. Controversy over children singing songs that often contained a subtext of adult content (in adult costumes and make-up) led to the show's cancellation after one series.^[1][2]

Minipops was the brainchild of Martin Wyatt, who created a new child group from London called the MiniPops and released an album in 1982 which reached the top 30 in the UK and Europe. This resulted in a French record label releasing a single from the album, "Stupid Cupid", which was sung by Martin Wyatt's young daughter Jo. The song reached number 1 in France, knocking "Ebony and Ivory" off the top spot.^[3]

Head of Entertainment Cecil Korer at Channel 4 and record producer Mike Mansfield embraced the idea of producing a TV show around the MiniPops; Korer believed it would boost and broaden the group's audience appeal. On 4 July 1982, thousands of amateur child performers from across Britain descended on a London theatre for the audition in a search to find additional children to sing and star in the television show with the original five members of the group.^[3]

The programme began attracting criticism from commentators in the British media for the portrayal of children in this manner.^[4] One caller on Channel 4's Right to Reply programme stated, "Minipops should be called MiniWhores. Are you people out of your mind?"^[3][5]

Seven albums were produced and released in the UK, Europe and Canada.

Before the television show:

• The Mini Pops (1982)^[6]

After the television show:

• We're the Mini Pops (1983)^[6]
• Christmas (1984)
• Let's Dance (1984)
• Wanna Have Fun (1985)
• Magic Juke Box (1986)
• Rocket to the Stars (1989)

In Canada We're the Mini Pops was successful, becoming the third-highest-selling album in Canada at the time. This prompted the Minipops to hold a three-week tour in 1983, enjoying controversy-free success.^[3]

A number of singles were released across Europe.

• Kidz Bop

• Emma (22 August 2007). "The MiniPops". MuchMusic.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011.
• Mini-Pops discography at Discogs
• Whatever Happened to the Mini Pops? at IMDb