The 6 O'Clock show was a live magazine programme transmitted every Friday night, and ironically ran for only six years between 1981 and 1987. It featured news segments and also vox pops on a variety of subjects, from members of the public on London's streets. In a similar vein to the BBC's That's Life, the presenters would occasionally offer people various morsels of unrecognisable foodstuffs. After the juicy tidbit had been consumed however, the shocked member of the public would be told that they had eaten Snake, or some other undigestable animal. TV stalwart Michael Aspel helmed the show every week, and was usually aided by his regular partners in crime Janet Street Porter, Danny Baker, Jenny Barnet and Caroline Munroe, each of which would carry out the hilarious street stunts that were required for the programme. As it was shown live, this sometimes resulted in interesting television whenever mistakes were made, or especially when guests were ridiculed as they appeared to plug their latest books or records.
Eventually, the show ended as the format lost steam, and you could see that even the presenters were finding the whole thing a tiresome exercise. It was fun while it lasted.
