Hit Man and Her, The

1 9 8 8 – 1 9 9 2 (UK)

This dance music programme from Granada Television – hosted by record producer and model railway enthusiast Pete Waterman (who was too old for the gig even in 1988) and future Spring Watch/Autumn Watch presenter Michaela Strachan – was broadcast from various nightclubs oop ‘north.

The show aired in the wee hours of Sunday morning on ITV (4.00 am in London and 2.00 am in some regions) and featured drunk teenagers dancing to club hits.

It also served as an outlet to showcase artists from Waterman’s PWL label such as Kylie Minogue, 2 Unlimited, Anticapella, and Opus III.

Revellers were plucked out of the audience to participate in impromptu fashion shows and games such as ‘Pass The Mic!’, ‘Showing Out’, and ‘Clothes Swap’ while a group of professional dancers – led by a black man dressed in just a pair of briefs and a white nylon Tina Turner wig – entertained the amateurs on the floor.

The first show was broadcast from Mr Smiths in Warrington on 3 September 1988, and the final show came from The Discothèque Royale in Manchester on 5 December 1992.

Other cities visited included Nottingham, Birmingham, Coventry, Formby, Liverpool, Dunfermline, Hull, Blackpool,
Southport, Chorley, Burnley, Leeds, Bury, Sheffield, Newcastle and Preston.

The Hit Man and Her was cheap TV at its tacky best.

Hosts
Pete Waterman
Michaela Strachan

Video