- Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
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Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Format Light Entertainment Presented by Chris Evans Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 2 No. of episodes 25 Production Location(s) The London Studios Running time 60 minutes
(including adverts)Production company(s) Ginger Productions Broadcast Original channel Channel 4 Original run 12 February 1994 – 25 February 1995 Don't Forget Your Toothbrush is a Saturday night light entertainment show originally broadcast in the United Kingdom in 1994, and has also been adapted in Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Portugal. The format is distributed internationally by DRG.
Contents
Versions
British
The show was written and presented by Chris Evans in his first major venture away from The Big Breakfast. The first pilot was considered unsuccessful by executives and Evans himself. Michael Grade, chief executive of Channel 4, said that the pilot was "like amateur's hour".[1] Feeling pressured, Evans ordered the studio audience to laugh at his jokes, threatening to humiliate any dissenters on stage.[1] Despite two failed pilots, the broadcaster was reluctant to waste the money that they had spent developing the show.[2] At some point in the process, executive producer Sebastian Scott left the project and Evans invited William G. Stewart, an experienced games show producer, to develop the show.[1] The show ran for two series in 1994 and 1995 on Channel 4. Shows were transmitted live on Saturday nights the first series at 10pm, the second at 9pm. Each episode would be repeated at teatime on the following Monday (series 1) or Sunday (series 2).
The theme music was composed by David Arnold, though Jools Holland (with his Big Band in series one, and Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in series two) provided the music during the live shows. They accompanied the star performers, who included Barry White, Lulu and Tony Hadley. Evans ended each show with a song. In series one he sang Morecambe and Wise's "Bring Me Sunshine" with that week's star guest, while in series two he sang Andy Williams' "It's So Easy".
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 stars that only a true fan would value. During the quiz round, usually between questions, Chris Evans would ask for the clock to be stopped, and then have a brief conversation with the celebrity guest regarding the question just asked, before starting it up again for the next one.
Toothbrush was also a game show. Each member of the audience was obliged to bring to the studio their passport, a suitcase and the following week off work (unless they were unemployed or, as was pointed out, didn't care if they got sacked). Two members of the audience were selected to take part in the "Light Your Lemon" quiz as a team, as well as a phone-in viewer. The contestants in the studio would be asked nine questions and if they got five right they would 'light the lemon' on a giant cocktail glass situated on stage. However, if they got five wrong they would 'flash the flake' on a giant ice cream cone and the contestant at home would be asked a single question by Jools Holland which, if they got right, would win them the exotic holiday (if they got it wrong, the game would be awarded to the studio contestants). If the studio contestants won, they went to some exotic destination (such as Mauritius) immediately after the show. If they lost, they went to a less exotic place (such as Margate) chosen for its alliteration to the first. Evans would introduce this segment by looking between alternate cameras in time to a drum beat that parodied the scene changes from one of his favourite TV shows, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.
The hostess for the first series was Evans' then girlfriend Rachel Tatton Brown, who had previously worked at The Big Breakfast.[3] Despite being a former model, Tatton Brown was uncomfortable in front of the cameras and aspired to move onto something else.[4] She was replaced in the second series by his then new girlfriend, Jadene Doran, who was introduced as "Ms Let Your Hair Down", and would appear on stage with her hair tied up, letting it drop as she arrived on stage.
One game featured during the second series 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. When a house had been found, the occupants (who were never seen) would play a game in which Evans would tell them to throw 10 household items out of specific windows, for example "Throw a kettle out of the main bedroom window".
What was undoubtedly the biggest moment in the show's history came in the penultimate show of the second series, when Chris Evans kept touting a huge surprise throughout the show, but did not 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 Disneyland Paris. 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 Disneyland Paris immediately after the show.
During the second series, it was announced that there would be no third series, in order to allow the show to go out on a high. Evans soon signed up to host the Radio 1 breakfast show, and returned to Channel 4 with TFI Friday.
Australian
The show first aired on 15 August 1995 on the Nine Network, hosted by Tim Ferguson and Wendy Mooney.[5][6]
It won the Most Popular Light Entertainment Program at the Logie Awards of 1996. Only one season was produced, reportedly due to the cost of making the show and the prizes.[7][8]
Executive producer Sandy Scott was previously involved with Family Feud and C'mon, Have A Go!.
American
One season was broadcast on Comedy Central in June 2000. The host was Mark Curry. The contestants who were selected from the studio audience could play and win prizes.
Netherlands and 2009 revival
In the Netherlands, Uhhh... Vergeet Je Tandenborstel Niet! was broadcast by the Veronica television station from 1995 to 1999. It was presented by Rolf Wouters.
In June 2009, it was announced that the show was being revived for Dutch TV.[9]
Others
- In Belgium, Vergeet je tandenborstel niet was presented by Walter Grootaers on VT4 in 1999.
- In Denmark, Husk lige tandbørsten (Remember The Toothbrush) was broadcast by Danmarks Radio from 1995 to 1996 and the presenter was Casper Christensen [1].
- In Sweden, Glöm inte tandborsten ran in the 1990s, hosted by Joakim Geigert.
- In Finland, Passi ja hammasharja ran between 1996 and 1998, hosted by local celebrities Tino Singh and Taru Valkeapää. [2].
- In France, N'oubliez pas votre brosse à dents was broadcast in 1994 and presented by Nagui [3].
- In Germany, Pack die Zahnbürste ein was broadcast by Sat.1 from 1994 to 1996 and presented by Ingolf Lück, and later Elmar Hörig][4].
- In Italy, Non Dimenticate Lo Spazzolino da Denti was broadcast by Canale 5 in 22 April 1995 and presented by Rosario Fiorello. After was broadcast by Italia 1 in 3 November 1996 and presented initially by Ambra Angiolini and after by Gerry Scotti and closed down due to poor ratings.
- In Portugal, Não se esqueça da sua escova de dentes was broadcast by SIC TV from 1994–1995 and presented by Teresa Guilherme.
- In Norway, "Glem ikke tannbørsten" ran in 2000, hosted by Paal Tarjei Aasheim
- In Chile, "No te olvides El Cepillo de Dientes" (Don't forget the toothbrush) was broadcast by Megavisión in 1996.
References
- ^ a b c Jones, David. Freak Or Unique?: The Chris Evans Story. HarperCollins
- ^ Evans, Chris (2009) It's Not What You Think. HarperCollins. pg 223
- ^ Evans, 2009, pg 234
- ^ Evans, 2009, pg 234-5
- ^ Conway, Andrew (7 August 1995). "Tim's Travelling Circus". Sydney Morning Herald: p. 3. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news950806_0102_4811. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ Fidgeon, Robert (10 January 2001). "Mooney talks". Herald Sun.
- ^ "Tangawarra Home > Tim Ferguson Home > Don't Forget Your Toothbrush". Geocities.com. 1995-08-15. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/tangawarra/timtooth.html&date=2009-10-26+03:01:44. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ Warneke, Ross (25 April 1996). "Logie Awards Just A Good Night Out". The Age: p. 4. http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news960424_0142_6376. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ Hurrell, Will. "Plans to revive Don't Forget Your Toothbrush in Holland | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/international/plans-to-revive-dont-forget-your-toothbrush-in-holland/5002764.article?referrer=RSS. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
External links
Categories:- 1990s British television series
- 1994 in British television
- 1994 British television programme debuts
- 1995 British television programme endings
- Australian game shows
- British game shows
- Channel 4 television programmes
- Comedy Central game shows
- French game shows
- Ginger Productions
- Italian game shows
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