At the end of last year I wrote a 2 part blog running down my top ten TV music shows, from which I’ve had a lot of feedback, all asking the same question about the same show…
“Where’s the Hitman and Her?”
So, I admit I was in the wrong, it should have gone in the list and to make up for it this blog is dedicated to Pete, Michaela and of course Clive.
For those of you not aware of what the Hitman and Her was, from September 1988 to December 1992 you would leave the club or bar you had been in on a Saturday night, said goodbye to whoever you had met that night, possibly even asked them their name, get home with a kebab or pizza, stick on ITV and find Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan “live” from a Mr Smiths (where the first one was recorded), Roxy, LA’s or any other club with big neon lights bringing the music and crowds into your living room from 2 until 4 in the morning.
Now this was back when there was very little night time tv so for a clubbing generation just entering the acid and techno era this was a dream conception. Recorded earlier in the evening and very hurriedly edited to make sure there was no swearing or obscene images Hitman provided perfect entertainment.
Of course with Waterman at the helm a lot of the music played was from his own label which meant while you may have raving to Altern-8 and The Prodigy while out on the town, when you put the Hitman on you heard Sonia and Donna Summer but it didn’t matter one bit. Occasionally they would play tracks like Voodoo Ray and Pete would start throwing shapes like your dad at a wedding party and look just as embarrassing but we loved him for it.
The cameramen seemed to be ex TOTP people as they always seemed to be able find the attractive women in the padded shoulders suits or ra-ra skirts (this WAS the 80’s after all) and men in suits trying to look smooth without looking straight at the camera but just happening to be pulling their best dance moves when the camera was on them. But no matter what moves the audience did, they couldn’t beat the main man Clive! Often dressed in trunks, furry leg warmers and not much else, Clive led the Hitman’s own dancers who also featured 911’s Jimmy Constable and a certain Jason Orange in his pre Take That days.
The Hitman was great for its games as well with the audience. Forget Tiesto and Oakenfold ripping up Gatecrasher in Ibiza with manic mixes, you haven’t lived if you haven’t played “Pass The Mic” or “Clothes Swap” live on the Hitman and Her from Mr D’s in Burnley to the music of Big Fun.
So yes, I’ll admit it I was wrong. The show should have gone in the top 10 tv music shows and for that I will hang my head in shame. So let’s pour a Taboo & Lemonade, slap on Jason Donovan’s greatest hits and, in this time where the alternative is watching a roulette wheel go round or buying sweaters from QVC, make the request…
ITV – BRING BACK THE HITMAN AND HER PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!
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