T4 (Channel 4)

T4 (T4 Saturday and T4 Sunday)
Presented by	Will Best Matt Edmondson Nick Grimshaw Jameela Jamil Georgie Okell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Location(s)	Channel 4 Headquarters (1998–2006) Riverside Studios (2006–09) Princess Productions Studios (2009–12)
Running time	350 minutes (T4 Saturday) 480 minutes (T4 Sunday)
Production company(s)	Channel Four Television Corporation At It Productions Eyeworks Princess Productions
Release
Original network	Channel 4 E4 (2001, 2012)
Picture format	4:3 (1998–2000) 16:9 (2001–12)
Original release	25 October 1998 – 29 December 2012

T4 was a scheduling slot on Channel 4 (T4 Saturday usually 9 am until 2 pm) and E4 (T4 Sunday usually 9 am until 5 pm). It also aired on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot had a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the standard Channel 4 logo. Channel 4 originally produced the strand in-house until 2002, when production was passed onto independent companies. The slot was targeted at the 16-34 age group.

Until 25 March 2012, T4 aired on Channel 4 both Saturday and Sunday, however, to make way for the introduction of Sunday Brunch in March 2012, T4 Sunday was moved to run on E4; T4 Saturday remained on Channel 4, and some programmes that previously appeared within the T4 block, such as The Simpsons, remained on Channel 4 on Sunday afternoons.^[1][2]

On 12 October 2012, Channel 4 announced that they would be axing T4 at the end of December 2012.^[3] The show ended on 29 December 2012.

Early history

Early on in T4's run, programmes aimed at children often aired in addition to the content aimed at older viewers, with shows such as CatDog and 2 Stupid Dogs appearing in the early schedule of the strand. Around 2001, this was dropped and the strand refocused entirely towards the teen/youth market. For the first few months of T4's life, its idents consisted of an animated spaceman like character. In 1999, this character instead appeared on the idents during the early morning pre-school shows, in addition to the weekend children's programmes that fell outside the T4 strand. These idents continued in use until 2004.

T4 on E4, 2001

After E4's launch in 2001, T4 initially also had a slot on the channel. However, this was short lived. They also had an equally short lived Friday evening slot on Channel 4. Following the sale of Quiz Call by Channel 4, it was rumoured that a T4 channel was one of the proposals to fill the vacant slot on Freeview (and subsequently on satellite and cable). However, the plan is also thought to have been rejected by director of television Kevin Lygo, as the slot was filled by Film4 +1 (now replaced, in turn, by Channel 4 +1).

Later years

Initially broadcast only on Sundays, the success of T4 saw the strand subsequently extended to include a Saturday block.

In more recent years, T4 had provided Channel 4 a broadcast window of programmes that are also broadcast in primetime slots on E4, such as The Big Bang Theory. In addition, following Channel 4's acquisition of terrestrial broadcast rights to The Simpsons, the series began to feature regularly within T4. Friends featured regularly within T4 until Channel 4 relinquished the rights to the sitcom in 2011.

Vernon Kay, Dermot O'Leary, Miquita Oliver and Alexa Chung returned for the last show on 29 December 2012 alongside the current presenters; Matt Edmondson, Nick Grimshaw, Jameela Jamil and Georgie Okell.

T4 on the Beach

T4 also staged an annual summer festival, T4 on the Beach, in the resort of Weston-super-Mare (for its first two years in 2003 and 2004, it was held in Great Yarmouth under the name Pop Beach), and previous musical acts that have appeared include McFly, Calvin Harris, Little Boots, and The Zutons. The concert in July 2010 was the sixth year running that the event had taken place in Weston-super-Mare which featured Dizzee Rascal and Florence and the Machine, among others.

T4 Stars of...

Normally bookended at the tail end of the year, T4 ‘Stars Of…’ broadcast live from Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The event was first held in 2009 and since then had become an annual fixture in the T4 events calendar. The Stars Of... title usually preceded the year in which it was being held e.g. Stars of 2010, as it was widely regarded as the replacement show for the now defunct Poll Winners' Party that T4 formerly broadcast alongside defunct pop magazine Smash Hits.

2009 line-up Kasabian JLS Sugababes La Roux Calvin Harris N-Dubz Alexandra Burke Florence and the Machine Example Ke$ha Paloma Faith The Saturdays Chipmunk Tinchy Stryder

2010 line-up Alexandra Burke Tinie Tempah Pixie Lott Professor Green Example Ellie Goulding N-Dubz Olly Murs JLS The Wanted Mark Ronson Jason Derulo The Saturdays Roll Deep Devlin

2011 line-up Labrinth Matt Cardle Emeli Sandé Cher Lloyd Rizzle Kicks Tinchy Stryder Dappy Example Pixie Lott Ed Sheeran Wretch 32 The Wanted Professor Green DJ Fresh

Presenters

Simon Amstell (2003–2006)[4] Dave Berry (2006–2007)[5] Will Best (2011–2012)[6] Mark Boardman (2006–2007)[7] Alexa Chung (2008–2009)[4] Anthony Crank (2004–2005)[8] Matt Edmondson (2011–2012)[9] Rick Edwards (2007–2011)[10] Nick Grimshaw (2010–2012)[4][10] Omar Gurnah (1998–1999) MC Harvey (2003–2004)[11]

Jameela Jamil (2009–2012)[12] Steve Jones (2003–2010)[4][10] Vernon Kay (2000–2005)[4] Fran Lee (1998–1999)[13] Georgie Okell (2010–2012)[10] Miquita Oliver (2006–2010)[10] Dermot O'Leary (1998–2001)[14] June Sarpong (2000–2007)[4] Ben Shephard (1999–2000)[15] Margherita Taylor (1999–2001)[16] Alex Zane (2007–2008)[4]

Programming

2 Stupid Dogs 90210 (2009–2012) Age of Love (2007) The Album Chart Show (2006–2012) Andromeda (2000–2005) Angel (Seasons One and Two only, heavily edited) (2000-2001) Angela Anaconda (2001–2003) Animal Alphabet (1998–1999) As If (2001–2004) Average Joe (2003–2005) Beauty and The Geek – has featured both the British and American versions (2006–2008) The Big Bang Theory (2008–2012) Big Brother (in particular, censored repeats of the live Friday night eviction shows on Saturdays) - Shows when Big Brother Series are usually aired (2000–2010) Big Brother's Little Brother - Shows when Big Brother Series are usually aired (2001–2010) Biker Mice from Mars (1998–1999) Celebrity Big Brother - Shows when Celebrity Big Brother Series are usually aired (2001–2010) Chancers (2004–2006) Charlie's Angels (2011) Charmed (Season Eight only, seasons 1-7 originally broadcast on Channel Five) (2006) – now on E4 Cheers – now on Gold City Guys (2000–2001) Coach Trip – seasons 1 and 2 only; later repeated on More4 (2005–2006) Dawson's Creek (1998–2003) – later repeated on Sony Entertainment Television Desperate Housewives January 2006 - Although only on its Wednesday night slot on Channel 4, the Sunday night at 6.45pm repeat was axed after just the first six episodes of season Two due to poor ratings Dirty Sexy Things (2011) Frasier (1998–2004) – now on Channel 4 Friends (1998–2011) – now on Comedy Central Frock Me (2008) Futurama (2004–2006) - now on Sky1 G-Girls (now available on 4oD) Girls Aloud: Off The Record (2006) (now available on 4oD) Glee (2010-2011) (now on Sky1) Hollyoaks Music Show (2008–2011) Hollyoaks Omnibus - An signed version of the omnibus including all 5 episodes aired in that week airs every Sunday around 9am-12pm (times may vary) (1998–2012) Homemade - ran for 1 series from (2006–2007) Joe Millionaire (2003–2005) Johnny Bravo (1999–2003) King of the Hill (1998-2010) KoKo Pop (2010–2012)

Madeline (1998–1999) The Magic Keeper (1998–1999) Malibu, CA (2000–2003) Master of the Musicverse – 2007 music trivia quiz aired during the summer schedule Musicool (2007) My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (2004) New Girl (season 1 only) (2012) New Look's Style the Nation (2011) Nokia Green Room The O.C. (sometimes edited from the version shown at 9pm on E4 to suit timeslot) (2004–2007) One Tree Hill (2004-2012) Orange unsignedAct (2007-2009) Pelswick (2001–2003) Perfect Couples (2011) Popworld - Was given a revamp in 2006 but later axed in 2007 (2001–2007) Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll (2007) Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (2008) Reaper (2008-2009) Relentless (2005-2006) Renford Rejects (1999–2001) Orange RockCorps (2011) Rules of Engagement (2008-2012) The Saturdays: What Goes On Tour (2010) Scrubs Airs 3.00pm-4.00pm Every Sunday (Edited to suit timeslot) (2002–2010) Sesame Street (1998–1999) Shipwrecked (2000–2012) The Simpsons - Every Sunday roughly 4.00pm-5.00pm (Heavily edited to suit timeslot) (1998-2012) - now on Sky1 and Channel 4 Sister, Sister (2002–2004) – now on The Vault Smallville (2002-2011) The Sopranos (Heavily edited to suit timeslot) (2000-2007) Stargate SG1 (2008-2007) Star Trek: Enterprise (2002-2005) – now on Pick TV / Sky Atlantic Suburgatory (season 1 only) (2012) T4 MobileAct Unsigned (2008–2009) T4 Movie Special (2004–2012) T4 On the Beach, 4Music On the Beach, Postcard from T4 On the Beach and various other spin-off shows (2003–2012) T4 'Stars of...' and various other spin-off shows (2009) Taina (2001–2003) Totally Frank (2005-2006) Totally Spies! (2001–2004) – moved to ITV Breakfast / CITV Ugly Betty (repeat of the Monday night episode) (2007-2010) Ultimate Traveller (2010) Vanity Lair (2008) The West Wing (2000-2006) When Women Rule the World - Repeat from Wednesday's show (2008) Will & Grace (1999-2006) Wise Up (1998-2000) WWF Heat (1999–2002) Your Face or Mine? (2002-2003)

Executive staff

T4's executives were Henrietta Conrad (executive producer) and Sebastian Grant (series producer) for Princess Productions, and Cath Lovesey (series editor) and Sangeeta Bhaskar (Channel 4 executive) for Channel 4.

References

1. T4 Sundays set to move to E4 Balihar Khalsa, Broadcast Now, 17 February 2012
2. T4 to move to E4 to make room for Sunday Brunch Anna Howell, iMedia Monkey, 17 February 2012
3. Channel 4 axes T4 brand Digital Spy, 12 October 2012
4. Channel 4 to replace T4 with a new music show NME, 12 October 2012
5. 95.8 Capital FM announces Dave Berry as new breakfast show host Radio Centre, 1 December 2011
6. Exclusive Interview With Will Best Female First, 4 July 2012
7. Mark Boardman Crunch Base
8. Table Talk: Anthony Crank Dianne Bourne, Manchester Evening News, 12 June 2008
9. Matt Edmondson named T4 presenter Digital Spy
11. MC Harvey Spoonfed
12. "TV Gallery: T4's new presenter, Jameela Jamil" TV Scoop Retrieved on 28 March 2009
13. Passion for fashion CWB Online, July 2012
14. When One Door Closes a New Time Slot Opens- C4 Axes T4 In Search Of Something New Contact Music, 13 October 2012
15. Ben Shephard Prime Performers
16. Margherita Taylor James Grant

External links

• Gallery of the T4 celebrity guests
• Picture gallery of all the T4 Presenters
• T4 on the Beach Tickets
• T4 on the Beach festival is for teens
• Photos of T4 on the Beach 2006 in Weston-super-Mare
• Review of T4 on the Beach 2006 in Weston-super-Mare
• T4 at the Internet Movie Database