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December 30, 2025

‘Terry Jones tried to eat the studio’s pet goldfish!’ The tiny village TV station that became a 90s smash hit

When the people of Waddington teamed up to broadcast self-written soap operas, horoscopes and magic tricks, little did they know it would be the most successful channel in the world – despite the chaos behind the cameras

‘Terry Jones tried to eat the studio’s pet goldfish!’ The tiny village TV station that became a 90s smash hit

TL;DR

  • In 1990, Waddington village in Lancashire participated in 'The Television Village' social experiment.
  • Villagers created and broadcast their own TV station, WVTV, using homemade sets and local talent.
  • WVTV achieved immense popularity, broadcasting self-written soaps, horoscopes, and magic tricks.
  • The experiment explored the impact of increased channel availability on viewers' habits.
  • WVTV's success highlighted the appeal of hyper-local and user-produced content.
  • The project predated modern reality TV and is seen as an early example of user-generated content.
  • Despite its impact, participants were not paid for their involvement.
  • The experiment concluded in April 1990, leaving behind only a small commemorative plaque.

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