CITV will close its doors on Friday after four decades on the air and spawning a string of iconic children’s shows that eclipsed its US competitors.
The brand started as an afternoon show on ITV in 1983 before moving to its own channel in 2006.
During its four decades of existence, CITV has boosted the careers of some of the biggest names in British television, some earning millions while others have chosen more modest career paths.
The brand is being shut down to allow ITV to move all of its children’s programming to its streaming platform ITVX, with a special target called ITVX Kids which launched in July.
As CITV fans prepare for an emotional farewell to the iconic brand, Web sees how some of their biggest names have fared…
Holly Willoughby
day symbol! Holly Willoughby started her career as a TV presenter as the presenter of Ministry Of Mayhem and is now one of Britain’s biggest television presenters (right on This Morning).
Thanks to her lucrative stint as This Morning presenter, Holly has proven to be one of CITV’s biggest success stories after launching her career as a presenter on the popular Saturday Morning show ‘Ministry of Mayhem’.
The show was known for overwhelming its guests and playing crazy games and many classic clips from Holly’s children’s television days have resurfaced recently, including the moment when she dressed up as a French maid.
Holly has hosted Dancing On Ice since the show ended in 2006 before taking on the role of This Morning host in 2009.
She was also a panelist on the messy Celebrity Juice quiz and appeared on shows like Surprise Surprise and Play To The Whistle.
She co-hosted This Morning with longtime boyfriend Phillip Schofield for 14 years before he left ITV earlier this year following his affair scandal.
It’s been reported that Holly will host This Morning with rotating co-hosts and has secured a whopping six-figure salary for the job.
ant and dec
Famous! Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly launched their careers into the stratosphere as hosts of wild weekend favorite SMTV Live
cash in! They are now two of ITV’s biggest stars, hosting shows like Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!. and Britain’s Got Talent
While Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were known to viewers from their stints at Byker Grove, the two launched their careers into the stratosphere as presenters of wild weekend favorite SMTV Live with Cat Deeley.
The show featured a variety of famous skits and segments, including Eat My Goal and Wonky Donkey.
One of the show’s most iconic moments occurred during its Friends spoof Chums, when Dec wanted to “marry” Cat in front of a star-studded audience that included big names like Amanda Holden, Denise Van Outen and Frank Skinner.
During their final months on the show, the two hosted the blockbuster talent show Pop Idol and appeared as hosts of their own series Saturday Night Takeaway.
Ant and Dec are still two of Britain’s biggest presenters more than 20 years after their SMTV appearance, hosting Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
The duo’s career hit a snag in 2018 after Ant’s arrest for drink driving, but they’ve bounced back and are more in demand than ever
They also reunited with SMTV co-host Cat Deeley in 2021 for an iconic Chums skit in honor of the show’s 20th anniversary.
Cat Deeley
Timeless: Cat Deeley started her career as a co-host on SMTV: Live before traveling across the pond to the US to film So You Think You Can Dance?
The glamorous blonde between feuding buddies Ant and Dec, Cat started her career as a presenter on SMTV: Live and music show CD:UK.
After the duo’s exit in 2001, she remained on the show for several months before hosting the BBC series Fame Academy and Stars In Their Eyes.
In 2006, Cat began her US career as a host of So You Think You Can Dance? and continued as the show’s main cast until its final season in 2022.
After moving across the pond with her husband Patrick Kielty, Cat became one of America’s top TV presenters, but returned to the UK in 2020 as guest presenter Lorraine.
In 2017, she wowed viewers by reuniting with Ant and Dec as the sinister villain Maskface in “Saturday Night Takeaway,” before joining the two in their live finale at Disneyworld Florida.
Michael Underwood
Turnoff: Michael was the third presenter of CITV’s favorite show Jungle Run from 2003 to 2006, but announced in 2021 that he is now an elementary school teacher after his television work dried up
Michael was the third presenter of CITV’s favorite Jungle Run from 2003 to 2006, guiding the young contestants through challenges to win prizes.
He also co-hosted “Ministry of Mayhem” with Holly and Stephen Mulhern before landing a job as an entertainment correspondent at GMTV.
Despite various appearances on shows like Good Morning Britain, Let Me Entertain You and Surprise Surprise, Michael has withdrawn from the spotlight in recent years.
In March 2021, he announced that he now works as an elementary school teacher after his television work dried up.
He said: “The phone has stopped ringing, it’s just not a nice place to stay.”
Michael, who has been married to Angellica Bell for more than ten years, told The Mirror about his career transition and what led him to teaching.
He described the step as follows: “I had to make a decision. I thought you knew what I got as a teacher. I have 20 years in broadcasting behind me, maybe I can use and apply those skills.” good use.
“Help build children’s confidence, help them with their oratory and presentation skills. Then I thought: “Yeah, let’s take the bull by the horns and maybe take the step into a different career.”
Stephen Mulhern
Famous: Stephen Mulhern started his career on CITV with shows like Finger Tips and Ministry Of Mayhem and now appears on Saturday Night Takeaway and In For A Penny
Stephen started his career at CITV as one of the main presenters of the afternoon programming.
He starred in Finger Tips and Tricky TV before appearing on the front lines of Ministry Of Mayhem with Holly.
In later years he moved into prime time presenting shows such as Britain’s Got More Talent and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
He even turned his takeaway segment “In For A Penny” into a series of his own.
Stephen is now reportedly set to succeed Phillip Schofield as the new host of Dancing On Ice alongside Holly, reuniting the couple nearly two decades after their children’s beginnings on television.
Neil Buchanan
Blast from the past! After presenter Neil Buchanan fronted CITV’s Art Attack, he traded his brush for a guitar to front the heavy metal rock band Marseille
Neil was an integral part of CITV as the host of one of its longest-running shows, Art Attack, which came on the station in 1990 and ran for 17 years.
His artistic skills were so well known that he was even the subject of a conspiracy theory by users who believed he was the mysterious artist Banksy.
But in later years, Neil traded his brushes for a guitar to perform with his heavy metal rock band Marseille.
As well as rocking the stage, Neil continues to paint and draw professionally and flaunt his impressive talents online.
The TV personality – who is married to wife Nicola – was actually a member of his band behind the scenes after forming them in Liverpool in 1976.
They released four albums and six singles before going their separate ways in the run-up to Neil’s Art Attack career and re-forming in 2009.
Tony Gardner
Flashback: Tony Gardner was the star of CITV favorite ‘My Parents Are Aliens’ (left) and has continued to act on television and on stage in recent years (right in ‘Death In Paradise’).
Tony starred on CITV favorite My Parents Are Aliens as space-based foster father Brian Johnson and also served as a writer on the series.
Before turning to acting, he worked as a doctor at Guy’s Hospital before becoming a GP
He continued to act in numerous series, including Last Tango In Halifax, Fresh Meat, and Not Going Out, as well as roles on stage.
In March 2023, Star Tony also announced that the cast had reunited after 17 years to attend his performance in Accidental Death of an Anarchist at the Lyric Hammersmith Theater in London.
They were joined by Charlotte Francis, who played Lucy Barker, and Olisa Odele, who took on the role of CJ.
Stephanie Fearon, who joined the show as a replacement for the character Harriet, was also present alongside Jordan Maxwell, who played Frankie Perkins.
Gareth Jones
Throwback: Gareth Jones starred alongside Fred Dineage on CITV’s favorite HOW 2 series, but has since retired from television and now hosts a car podcast
Gareth has starred in CITV’s favorite series HOW 2, alongside Fred Dineage and similar show The Big Bang, but has retired from television in recent years.
Instead, he hosts the auto podcast Gareth Jones on Speed, which features automotive stars like Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
He also guest starred on Celebrity Pointless and starred as Tommy Cooper’s manager Miff Ferrie in the touring stage production The Tommy Cooper Show.
Arthur Darville
Vintage: One of CITV’s lesser-known stars, Arthur began his career hosting the afternoon continuity segments (left) and has since starred in Doctor Who, Broadchurch and Grace (right).
One of CITV’s lesser-known stars, Arthur began his career under his given name, Tom, hosting the afternoon continuity segments.
He transitioned into stage work for several years before joining the cast of Doctor Who in 2010 as companion to the Eleventh Doctor Rory Williams and ITV megahit drama Broadchurch in 2013.
Earlier that year he starred in the musicals Once and Treasure Island, as well as the West End revival of Oklahoma.
Continuing the sci-fi trend, Arthur also played the role of Rip Hunter in the US series Legends Of Tomorrow.