Tarrant became known locally as a reporter on light-hearted or "wacky" stories on the main news bulletins for ATV, while also being the serious news anchor later in the evening. But the fact he was working at ATV, coincided with a new show development and the need for a host, to the show which would turn him into a national star.

Tiswas took the children's Saturday morning television mould and smashed it to bits, with its anarchic nature, although it began life as a 'links' strand between many 'filler' programmes, such as cartoons and old movies.

The popularity of the presenters' links soon eclipsed the staple diet of filler.

It was originally produced as a Midlands region programme by ATV and was first shown on 5 January 1974. Within a couple of years it had been taken up by some other ITV regional companies, and eventually nearly every region broadcast the show, with Channel Television being a notable exception. Most famously hosted by Chris Tarrant between 1974 and 1981, and later Sally James, it also featured the young Lenny Henry and occasionally Jim Davidson together with Bob Carolgees and his puppet, Spit the Dog. John Gorman, former member of 1960s cult band The Scaffold - was also in regular attendance.