Joanna Fisher
Encyclopedia
Joanna Fisher found fame in the UK in the popular if controversial programme Minipops
in 1981, with their first series named Mini-pops for new UK broadcaster Channel 4
in 1982. At five years old, she was the youngest member of the group. She often performed solo versions of the popular songs of the day.
One of her performances, as Sheena Easton
singing the love song "9 to 5
" (aka "Morning Train" in America), attracted an outcry in the media at the time due to the song's lyrics (including: "night time is the right time, we make love") and the choice of make-up and clothes in her performance.
Minipops sung the theme tune to The Wide Awake Club and Wacaday
and were regulars on the show. They also appeared many times on TV-am
and in Ireland on The Late Late Show
with Gay Byrne
, as well as making an appearance on Russell Harty
's BBC chat-show.
Fisher stayed with the Minipops long after the show's cancellation from UK screens, enjoying further success with the group in Canada
where their third album was the third biggest selling album in Canadian history at that time, behind Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton.
The Minipops ran for eight years, making nine albums, with international acclaim, over 27 number one singles, and reaching number two in the album charts in Canada, where the Minipops toured for three weeks, with sell-out concerts in front of audience of up to 20,000 people.
More recently, Fisher's television appearances have included Life After They Were Famous, 2005 documentary Whatever Happened to the Minipops? and as the mystery guest on The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, a lighthearted quiz celebrating the 25th anniversary of Channel 4
, screened at the end of 2007. On both occasions she confirmed that she still sings, is still happy with her association with the group and occasionally misses the stardom of her Minipops years.
Fisher has achieved national and international success in the equestrian sport of dressage
at Grand Prix level, representing Great Britain whilst being based in Germany. Her results include a Gold Medal in the Nations Cup at Hickstead and being ranked a Class 1 Rider.
Minipops
Minipops was a television series broadcast in 1983 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. Focused primarily for younger viewers, it consisted of music performances on a brightly coloured set, featuring preteen children singing then-contemporary pop music hits as well as older classics...
in 1981, with their first series named Mini-pops for new UK broadcaster Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in 1982. At five years old, she was the youngest member of the group. She often performed solo versions of the popular songs of the day.
One of her performances, as Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
singing the love song "9 to 5
9 to 5 (Sheena Easton song)
"9 to 5" is the title of a popular song written by British songwriter Florrie Palmer and recorded by Sheena Easton in 1980, becoming her biggest hit...
" (aka "Morning Train" in America), attracted an outcry in the media at the time due to the song's lyrics (including: "night time is the right time, we make love") and the choice of make-up and clothes in her performance.
Minipops sung the theme tune to The Wide Awake Club and Wacaday
Wacaday
Wacaday was a children's television series in the UK that ran in TV-am's school-holidays slot from 1985 until 1992, in an 8:50-9:25 a.m. slot, and was hosted by Timmy Mallett....
and were regulars on the show. They also appeared many times on TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
and in Ireland on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
with Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, as well as making an appearance on Russell Harty
Russell Harty
Russell Harty was an English television presenter of arts programmes and chat shows.-Early life:Born Frederick Russell Harty in Blackburn, Lancashire, he was the son of a fruit and vegetable stallholder on the local market...
's BBC chat-show.
Fisher stayed with the Minipops long after the show's cancellation from UK screens, enjoying further success with the group in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where their third album was the third biggest selling album in Canadian history at that time, behind Michael Jackson and Dolly Parton.
The Minipops ran for eight years, making nine albums, with international acclaim, over 27 number one singles, and reaching number two in the album charts in Canada, where the Minipops toured for three weeks, with sell-out concerts in front of audience of up to 20,000 people.
More recently, Fisher's television appearances have included Life After They Were Famous, 2005 documentary Whatever Happened to the Minipops? and as the mystery guest on The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, a lighthearted quiz celebrating the 25th anniversary of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, screened at the end of 2007. On both occasions she confirmed that she still sings, is still happy with her association with the group and occasionally misses the stardom of her Minipops years.
Fisher has achieved national and international success in the equestrian sport of dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
at Grand Prix level, representing Great Britain whilst being based in Germany. Her results include a Gold Medal in the Nations Cup at Hickstead and being ranked a Class 1 Rider.