The Big Breakfast

The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 each weekday morning from September 28, 1992 until March 29, 2002. In this time there were a total of 2482 shows produced. The only time the show missed a day was in the aftermath of 9/11 on September 12, 2001.

Related Topics:
Channel 4 - September 28 - 1992 - March 29 - 2002 - 9/11 - September 12 - 2001

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The programme, broadcast live from a set of lockkeepers' cottages in Bow in east London, was a colourful mixed format of news, weather, interviews, audience phone-in and features. The popularity of the show waxed and waned repeatedly over the nine-and-a-half years of its existence - its popularity being closely linked to the spontaneity and humour of the two main presenters at any given time.

Related Topics:
Bow - London

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The initial two presenters, Chris Evans (presenter from 1992 to 1994) and Gaby Roslin (1992-1996) held reign over what might be the golden era of The Big Breakfast. Evans' zany humour and touch of arrogance was new and fresh, Roslin a good foil for him. At its height, viewing figures reached two million.

Related Topics:
Chris Evans - Gaby Roslin

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Evans started his own production company and moved onto other projects in 1994. He was replaced by former Neighbours star Mark Little. Little and Roslin presented for two years before Roslin made way for Zoe Ball in 1996. Audience figures slipped a little after Evans left, and a little more after Roslin departed. However, it wasn't until Little and Ball were replaced by Rick Adams and Sharron Davies, two less accomplished hosts on the small screen later that year, that figures fell dramatically, losing its audience primarily to radio. Producers stopped the rot quickly, finding a winning partnership in Johnny Vaughan and Denise van Outen. Audience figures jumped back to their peak. Vaughan briefly presented also with Liza Tarbuck and Kelly Brook in 1999, but van Outen returned in 2000. The pair quit together in 2001. This turned out to be the death knell for the show as viewers did not warm to their replacements, Richard Bacon, Paul Tonkinson and Amanda Byram. Mike McClean and Donna Air joined the show as it converted to a multi-presenter format.

Related Topics:
Neighbours - Mark Little - Zoe Ball - Rick Adams - Sharron Davies - Johnny Vaughan - Denise van Outen - Liza Tarbuck - Kelly Brook - Richard Bacon - Paul Tonkinson - Amanda Byram - Mike McClean - Donna Air

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This format only lasted for a couple of months though, with the show reverting back to its original format for the final months, before it last aired on March 29, 2002.

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A key feature for the first five years was the "On the Bed" interview. Paula Yates and later Paul O'Grady (as Lily Savage) and Vanessa Feltz assumed the role of interviewer. Mark Lamarr, Keith Chegwin and Paul Ross were "on your doorstep" outside broadcasters. One of the most infamous on-air was Paula Yates' open flirting during an interview with Michael Hutchence as a prelude to their affair.

Related Topics:
Paula Yates - Paul O'Grady - Lily Savage - Vanessa Feltz - Mark Lamarr - Keith Chegwin - Paul Ross - Michael Hutchence

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On Millennium night a mammoth eight-hour live broadcast took place from Lock Keepers' Cottages to herald in the new century. The Biggest Breakfast ever was hosted by Johnny Vaughan and Liza Tarbuck and featured many classic moments and 'best of' features. Even 8 hours of airtime was not enough. The shows producers got Channel 4 to extend its broadcast time by half an hour to fit in the premiere of the competition 'Wonga.' It was a prize game that returned to the show many times in its final two years.

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The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former Boomtown Rat and Live Aid organiser, Bob Geldof.

Related Topics:
Planet 24 - Boomtown Rat - Live Aid - Bob Geldof

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In November 2002, after The Big Breakfast was axed, a fire destroyed a significant proportion of the first floor of the cottage the show was filmed in. A large part of the roof was also destroyed in the blaze. The fire is especially suspicious as there was no gas or electrical supply to the building.

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Since the fire, extensive renovations have taken place to restore the house, and it is now used as a family home. The house was bought for almost half the original asking price of £1 million, at a mere £550,000. The house was slashed in value due to the fire of November 2002.

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The house has now been fully renovated, but they maintain a high perimeter fence around the house. One of the well recognised aspects of the house remains - the Sunburst wall.

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