Don't Forget Your Toothbrush

Don't Forget Your Toothbrush is a television entertainment show originally broadcast in Britain in 1994, and has also been adapted in Australia, France, Germany, Norway, the United States, and the Netherlands.

British version

The show was written and presented by Chris Evans in his first major venture away from The Big Breakfast. After the pilot, it was developed by William G. Stewart.

Related Topics:
Chris Evans - The Big Breakfast - William G. Stewart

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The show ran for two series in 1994 and 1995 on Channel 4. Shows were transmitted live on Saturdays at 10pm and repeated on the following Monday teatime.

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The theme music was composed by David Arnold, though Jools Holland (with his Big Band in season one, and Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in season two) provided the music during the live shows. They accompanied the star performers, who included Barry White, Lulu and Tony Hadley ("We love you madly").

Related Topics:
David Arnold - Jools Holland - Barry White - Lulu - Tony Hadley

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The star guest took part in the Superfan quiz to see if they knew more trivia about themselves than a huge fan, against whom they were competing. The prize was a possession of the star's that only a true fan would value.

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Toothbrush was also a game show. Each member of the audience was obliged to take to the studio their passport, a suitcase and permission from their employer for a possible week off work (or they didn't care if they got fired). Two members of the audience were selected to take part in the "Light Your Lemon" quiz, the winner of which went to some exotic destination (such as Mauritius) immediately after the show. The loser went to a less exotic place (such as Margate) chosen for its alliteration to the first.

Related Topics:
Mauritius - Margate

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The hostess for the first season was Evans' then girlfriend Rachel Tatton-Brown. She was replaced in the second season by Jadine Doran.

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Evans ended each show with a song. In season one he sung Morecambe and Wise's "Bring Me Sunshine" with that week's star guest, while in season two he sung Andy Williams' "It's So Easy."

Related Topics:
Morecambe and Wise - Andy Williams

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A memorable feature of the second season involved the audience flashing their house lights on and off at a prescribed moment. A camera in a mystery location would search for someone taking part, thus selecting them to play a game involving throwing things out of their windows.

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What was undoubtedly the biggest moment in the entire series came in the penultimate show of the second series, when Chris Evans kept touting a huge surprise throughout the show, but didn't reveal it until he was about to play "Light Your Lemon". The audience were quite unprepared for how big a surprise it was when Evans announced that if the studio contestants won the exotic holiday, then EVERY member of the audience would go for a week's holiday at Euro Disney. Obviously, the atmosphere was euphoric, and everyone was on tenterhooks in case the contestants lost the game. They won, and the whole audience left for Euro Disney immedietly after the show.

Related Topics:
Penultimate - Euro Disney

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