The Hour (magazine series)

For other uses, see The Hour (disambiguation).
The Hour

The Hour logo, September–October 2011
Genre Lifestyle, Features
Presented by Michelle McManus,
Stephen Jardine,
Tam Cowan
Country of origin Scotland, United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Tom Cara
Location(s) Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 60 minutes
(includes commercials)
Production company(s) STV Productions
Release
Original network STV
Original release 26 May 2009 (2009-05-26) – 11 October 2011 (2011-10-11)
Chronology
Preceded by The Five Thirty Show
(2008-2009)
External links
Official website

The Hour was a lifestyle magazine programme broadcast on STV, the ITV franchise in Northern and Central Scotland.

Originally broadcast each weekday afternoon at 5pm, the programme was presented for much of its run by Michelle McManus and Stephen Jardine and broadcast from STV's Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow. The programme later moved to a weekly peak time slot but was axed after four weeks.

History

The Hour began in May 2009 as an hour-long replacement for The Five Thirty Show, which had aired on weekdays since January 2008. Whilst its male presenter, Stephen Jardine, remained with the programme since its launch, his female co-host rotated between various personalities until October 2009, when it was announced that regular guest host Michelle McManus would become a main co-host.

Despite replacing The Five Thirty Show, The Hour's focus was more lifestyle-orientated than its predecessor, which was originally intended to cover the main issues and news topics of the day. Features on The Hour included entertainment, TV, movies, cookery, health, gardening, fashion, celebrity guests and other topics.

In May 2011, Stephen Jardine announced he was leaving STV to form a PR company. McManus continued presenting the programme with various guest presenters until the end of the daytime version of The Hour on Friday 22 July 2011.[1]

In June 2011, STV announced the programme would be cut from five days a week to once a week and moved to a prime time slot of Tuesdays at 8pm from 20 September 2011. McManus remained to present the relaunched programme, alongside Tam Cowan.[2][3]

Low ratings and criticism over the peak time version of the programme led to STV's decision to axe the programme just 4 weeks after the relaunch. The last edition of the programme aired on Tuesday 11 October 2011, two days before it was axed.[4]

Spin-offs

The Hour spawned two spin-off programmes, usually as an extension to a segment of the main 5pm programme - The Chef's Apprentice was a special stand, looking for Scotland's best young chef. The judges were Sue Lawrence, Jeff Bland, Steven Doherty, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Steven Kitchen. The final was aired on Monday, 23 November 2009.

Another segment of the show was Fashion Hijack (presented by Vicky Lee), where a team of style and beauty experts transformed the look of women across the country. A special Christmas edition was aired out-with The Hour on Wednesday, 23 December 2009.

In January 2011, a short programme called New Year, New You was aired every evening at 5.55. This was shown as separate from The Hour, but it took up the last five minutes normally occupied by the programme.

On Saturday 20 August 2011, a special edition, The Hour Goes to the Races, aired live from Perth Races on Royal Charities Day, presented by Michelle McManus and STV News West anchor John MacKay.

The Team

Main presenters

Guest co-presenters

Experts and correspondents

Guests

For the full guest list, see List of guests on The Hour

References

  1. ↑ "Stephen Jardine looks back on his career as he quits STV". The Sun. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Michelle McManus will present revamped peak time show, The Hour". STV plc. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  3. ↑ "The time is now: The Hour moves to a weekly primetime slot". stv.tv. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  4. ↑ "STV confirms end of the road for The Hour". stv.tv. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
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