Sam & Mark

Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, known collectively as Sam & Mark, or simply Smark, are an English popular music and television presenting duo. They previously competed on the second series of Pop Idol in 2003, where they finished third and second, respectively, behind winner Michelle McManus. Since then, Sam & Mark have had a successful career as TV presenters, hosting various BBC programmes such as TMi, Top of the Pops Reloaded and Copycats. Also they presented, and still do, a show called Sam and Marks' Guide To Dodging Disaster.

History

Music

After Pop Idol, they decided to form a duet and signed with Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls' fame. They quickly released as a single a cover of The Beatles' song "With a Little Help from My Friends", released on Fuller's label 'S'. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at #1. The follow-up single "The Sun Has Come Your Way" released by UMTV, only reached Number 19 in the charts. Consequently, the pair were dropped from their record label.

Television

Despite this reversal, the two have managed to carve a successful television career for themselves, hosting various programmes on the BBC, most notably Saturday morning children's shows TMi and Top of the Pops Reloaded. They made their national television debut on ITV1. Sam & Mark hosted CBBC's weekday morning breakfast show, Level Up for four months from 3 April 2006 to 1 September 2006. On 16 September 2006, they hosted the first episode of TMi, a new Saturday morning TV show for the BBC on BBC Two and the CBBC Channel, alongside presenter Caroline Flack. The third series of the show ended in December 2008 and the BBC have confirmed a fourth series of the Saturday morning series for CBBC. In 2007, Sam & Mark presented a show on CBBC called Do Something Different. Beginning on 3 January 2009, Sam and Mark's Who Wants to be a Superhero? began to air where children had to compete to be a new superhero for Stan Lee. They were also asked to perform on Children In Need 2007.

In January 2010, they began a new show called Jump Nation which is similar to Skate Nation. They were also on a celebrity special of Total Wipeout. Neither won, losing out to glamour model Danielle Lloyd. They currently appear on Sam and Mark's Guide to Dodging Disaster for CBBC in non-speaking roles with a voice over by Hugh Dennis. They also present the competition segment of This Morning on ITV1. Also on This Morning on Wednesday 28 April 2010 Sam and Mark presented a "On The Box" segment where they reviewed the latest TV shows, DVDs and movies. They are now on a new show on CBBC called Copycats and are presenters on Skate Nation. Lately, they have started a new show, similar to the TMi series, but called Sam and Mark's TMi Friday. The series began in September 2010 and finished in December. It was then announced it was cancelled.

For Red Nose Day 2011 they presented a series called Comic Relief does Glee Club, which had five 45 minute episodes, four of which were live, on BBC1. In 2012 this continued with Sport Relief does Glee Club, which had eight 30 minute episodes on CBBC and two live episodes on BBC1 and CBBC. In 2013 a new series of Comic Relief does Glee Club started with Naomi Wilkinson in which there were three 45 minute Judge's Auditions on CBBC only presented by Naomi. There were then five 45 minute heats which Sam and Mark joined Naomi, there were then two live episodes on BBC1 and CBBC.

From September 2011 every Friday at 6 they have their own series called "Sam and Mark's Big Friday Wind Up". It is like a prank show, with surprises around every corner with celebrity guests each week, including Ronan Parke, The Wanted and Pixie Lott. This finished in December. A second series was then started in January 2013 running until March.

In 2012 Sam and Mark competed against each other in ITV's Dancing On Ice which also included the likes of Rosemary Conley, Charlene Tilton, Jennifer Ellison and Chico: Mark was 3rd to leave, Sam left in Week 9.

In 2013, Sam and Mark co-hosted Channel 5 special "The Great Christmas Toy Giveaway" alongside Myleene Klass. The two-hour show featured guests, toy reviews, music and VTs previewing the toys and games available for Christmas and included a competition to win ofer £10,000 worth of toys.

Radio

The duo present a radio show which can be heard on Free Radio across the West Midlands. They present on Sunday Mornings from 11:00AM – 1:00 PM.

Discography

Singles

"With a Little Help from My Friends" (S) February 2004 - Number 1 UK

Track listing:

"With a Little Help from My Friends"
"Measure of a Man"
Enhanced content: "With a Little Help from My Friends" video and a picture gallery

"The Sun Has Come Your Way" (UMTV) July 2004 - Number 19 UK