Simon Amstell and Miquita Oliver presented Popworld for five years (Picture: Channel 4)
Channel 4 fans have welcomed the blast of 00s nostalgia after Popworld presenters Miquita Oliver and Simon Amstell reunited for the first since 2006.
The stars – aged 16 and 21 respectively at the time – were the original hosts of the irreverant TV show which delved into the world of celebrity news and gossip with a splash of absurd humour.
They cooked up plenty of onscreen chaos during their time on Popwrold from Simon, 45, interviewing Natalie Imbruglia with a bag over his head to The Strokes being grilled by a horse.
While Miquita, 40, and Simon have remained friends, they have not had a professional partnership for nearly two decades, until now... on Miquita’s podcast Miss Me?.
Simon stood in for Lily Allen, who is taking an extended mental health break after reportedly splitting from her from husband David Harbour, on the BBC Sounds show.
On Instagram, their fans were delighted by the reunion, with @annelancaster exclaiming:’One of the best comedic presenter partnerships ever! Love to see this reunion.’
The pair have been together on screen since 2006 (Picture: Channel Four)
@kendallroylookingsad raved: ‘This is the best thing that’s happened to me this week.’
Echoing their sentiment, @lookatdunk said: ‘They are still perfect together!’
@hannahfreelandX shared: ‘Wonderful episode this week ❤️ nostalgic and joyful.’
@olaszmidt_ also added: ‘Legendary, oh I miss these two on the screen and ether together.’
Miquita invited Simon on her podcast Miss Me? (Picture: Jeff Spicer/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
Simon stood in for Lily who is taking a mental health break (Picture: Dominique Charriau/Getty Images)
Their reunion contrasts Miquita’s admission to Metro in 2022 that she doubted she would ever work with Simon again.
‘Simon will not work with me again,’ she said.
‘I don’t know why. He’s like, “It was brilliant. Let’s just leave it there”. And I’m like, “Yeah… but we were so good”.’
She also poured cold water over a joint TV comeback, telling OK! magazine: ‘He’s a very, very important person in my life but I’m not sure the TV reunion is going to happen.’
Miquita previously claimed that Simon did not want to work with ehr again (Picture: Claire Greenway/Getty Images)
Reflecting on their first impressions of each other on the 20th anniversary of Popworld in 2021, Miquita told The Guardian: ‘I was interested in how confused you [Simon] were by me.
To which Simon responded: ‘That’s because everything you said was hilarious and absurd. You were like: “I went to this squat party last night,” and I was like: “What’s a squat party?” I’d grown up in this suburban Jewish bubble, and I was 21, but Essex 21, which is like 12.
‘And she was west London 15, which is like 36. We really were fascinated by each other.’
When the pair departed Popworld their roles were taken over by Alexa Chung and Alex Zane before it was ultimately cancelled in 2007.
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After leaving Popworld because it ‘got too easy’, Simon hosted Never Mind The Buzzocks and has since gone on to pursue a career in screenwriting, directing and comedy. He released his debut feature film Benjamin in 2018 starring actor Colin Morgan.
In 2019, he also released his stand-up special, Set Free, on Netflix which explores ‘love, ego, intimacy and ayahuasca’.
Meanwhile, Miquita went on to present T4 until 2010 when she was overheard insulting Kesha by the singer’s management and her contract was not renewed.
In the mid-00s, Miquita hosted shows on BBC Radio One and BBC Radio 1Xtra but claimed to Heat Magazine that she was fired after calling Fearne Cotton a ‘devil woman’ in NME.
In 2011, she filed for bankruptcy after non-payment of a tax bill and two years later fronted documentary Young, British and Broke: The Truth about Payday Loans for the BBC.
After that programme, Miquita was rarely seen on screen but made a brief comeback as part of the four-part BBC series 24 Hours in the Past in 201
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