Eurotrash (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Eurotrash


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presenter = Antoine de Caunes
Jean-Paul Gaultier
country = UK
network = Channel 4
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website = http://www.channel4.com/eurotrash
imdb_id = 0238781
tv_com_id = 74443

"Eurotrash" was a Rapido Television production in English. It was shown in the UK on Channel 4 and was a late-night comical review of weird and wonderful topics from around the world (despite the 'Euro' title). The show averaged around a 20 percent audience share, pulling in around 2-3 million viewers each week. Channel 4's Slot Average for Eurotrash's broadcast time is around 900,000 viewers, making the show an important hit for the channel. It ran for 16 series (over 160 episodes), making it one of the UK's longest running late-night entertainment shows. Channel 4 infrequently re-runs the series and repeats can be found on the Paramount Comedy Channel. Series 1 is also now available on Virgin Media's on-demand service. After 10 years of broadcast, the show has built up a substantial following and Eurotrash has various fan sites, including a popular Facebook group.

As of 2008, Channel 4 have no plans for any further series.

The first series were presented by Antoine de Caunes and Jean-Paul Gaultier; Gaultier left after the end of series 7 and de Caunes then co-presented with a range of guest presenters, including Swedish actress/model Victoria Silvstedt. A number of features and stars survived from series one, including Pepe and Popo, two cardboard giraffes made from toilet rolls, and the Belgian singer Eddy Wally. Victoria Silvstedt was a semi-regular during 2003, often appearing in the studio with de Caunes to present the "Naked Germans of the Week" feature. Graham Norton also featured as a roving reporter in series 9.

Despite being a big budget show (around £400,000 per hour to make) the programme is surreal and has a deliberate low budget feel. Bright colourful pop-art studio backgrounds used to be built full size, but in later years chromakey was used with model shots, adding to the comical 'trashy' feel. Studio material is shot in Paris, France. Topics covered include rabbit-showjumping, singing dogs, 'nude cleaning services' and magicians, and Europe's very worst (but usually popular in their host country) bands and singers. The series is voiced by Maria McErlane. Davina McCall provided English voice translations in series 1. In later years Kate Robbins provided voice dubbing for the strange continental "stars", which she performed in Yorkshire and other English regional accents and similar quirky anglicised effects. Johnny Daukes, former singer and writer with the indie Band FIN in the 1990s, provided male voices in a similar fashion throughout the series. One issue had an obituary of Lolo Ferrari which was produced and broadcast with straight dubbing as a mark of respect, which stood out from the usual comic tone of the programme.

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/eurotrash "Eurotrash"] at Channel4.com
* [http://www.rapidotelevision.com/shows/shw.10.php "Eurotrash" Rapido Television] ["Eurotrash" from Rapido Television's website]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238781/ "Eurotrash" IMDB profile]