Christopher John Tarrant OBE (born 10 October 1946, Reading, Berkshire)^[1] is a BAFTA-nominated, Broadcasting Press Guild Award-winning English radio broadcaster and television presenter, now best known for hosting the TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organization that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ... The Broadcasting Press Guild is a British association of journalists who specialise in writing and broadcasting about television, radio and the media generally. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A television presenter is a British term for a person who introduces or hosts television programmes. ... TV redirects here. ... Quiz show redirects here. ... In the United Kingdom, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers a maximum cash prize of one million pounds for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. ...

Biography

Tarrant was brought up in Reading, the son of the managing director at biscuit company Huntley & Palmer.^[1] He was educated at the King's School, Worcester (1960-4) where he excelled at cricket and hockey,^[2] although he has often said they were not happy times, recalling his "very strict" schooldays in a fund-raising book of memories, and in 1999 describing the school as a "modern-day Iran".He claims to have been caned there very frequently and sometimes in front of the whole school. However these claims have been disputed by others who either attended or worked at the school at this time.^[3] The Kings School, Worcester (KSW) is an independent British Public School founded by Henry VIII in 1541. ... This article is about the sport. ... Hockey is any of a family of sports in which two teams compete by trying to maneuver a ball, or a hard, round disc called a puck, into the opponents net or goal, using a hockey stick. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ...

Tarrant attended the University of Birmingham, where he read English^[1] and was thrown out of Chamberlain Hall for tying a Brent Goose's wings together and throwing it off the 13th floor of the tower. Upon graduation he did odd jobs including driving a lorry before working as a schoolteacher in New Cross^[1] , London. Though in a respectable job, he found himself homeless after walking out on a girlfriend without anywhere to stay, so for six months he lived in his grey mini van in the grounds of the school where he worked.^[4] Website http://www. ... , New Cross is a district on the north tip of the London Borough of Lewisham. ...

Tarrant then got work as a director in the film section of the Central Office of Information where, he claims, "a 12-second black and white film of mine won the Romanian short film of the year in 1971. It was about the world's strongest rope."^[1] Bored, he wrote a series of insolent letters to television companies claiming brazenly: "I am the face of the 1970s and this is your last chance to snap me up". He eventually gave up teaching to pursue his dream of television, driving a truck during the day and becoming a Birmingham based DJ during the night. Incredibly, the effort paid off and he was invited by the Midlands-based ATV for an audition and ended up as a newsreader on the regional bulletins.^[5] The Central Office of Information (COI) is the UK governments marketing and communications agency. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... For other uses, see Truck (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The ATV colour logo, used from the start of the colour standard in 1969 until the companys demise in 1981. ...

ATV and Tiswas

Tarrant became known locally as a reporter on light-hearted or "wacky" stories on the main news bulletins for ATV, while also being the serious news anchor later in the evening. But the fact he was working at ATV, coincided with a new show development and the need for a host, to the show which would turn him into a national star.

As one of the co-hosts of the ground-breaking Saturday morning children's TV show Tiswas, Tarrant became known to a UK-wide audience though this programme was not shown by all of ITV's regional networks simultaneously during Tarrant's time on it. He left the show in 1981 to make a late night adult version named O.T.T., but after a national outcry over its controversial content (including naked balloon dances and topless dancers) it was dropped after one series. A toned-down version of the show, Saturday Stayback appeared in 1983. Tiswas was an anarchic Saturday morning childrens British TV show which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ... The regular cast of O.T.T. in 1982 (from left to right) Alexei Sayle, Helen Atkinson-Wood, John Gorman, Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, and Bob Carolgees O.T.T. was a late-night adult version of the anarchic ATV childrens show Tiswas, but made by its ITV franchise... Saturday Stayback was a late night comedy show made in 1983 made by Central Television, starring Chris Tarrant. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ...

Capital Radio

In 1984, Tarrant joined London commercial radio station Capital Radio, firstly presenting the weekday lunchtime show, before taking on the breakfast show. His morning show ran for 17 years and became one of the staples of early morning London life, resulting in him winning the coveted Sony Radio Academy Awards, Breakfast Show Gold in 1995.^[6] This article is about the year. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the British radio station. ... The Sony Radio Academy Awards (the Sonys), started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Another notable point was when the young Countess of Wessex was a public relations representative at Capital, and was photographed sitting next to Tarrant in a taxi whilst having her top pulled down on an outside broadcast. The photo was later released in 1999 by ex breakfast show travel girl Kara Noble, by now working at Heart 106.2 in London when the Countess was about to marry Prince Edward. Subsequently The Sun apologised, while Noble was promptly sacked on grounds of bringing the company into disrepute.^[7] HRH The Countess of Wessex The Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen Mountbatten-Windsor, née Rhys-Jones), (born January 20, 1965), is a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Heart 106. ... HRH The Earl of Wessex His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor), styled HRH The Earl of Wessex (born March 10, 1964), is a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II. He has held the title... This article is about a British tabloid. ...

In 2001, it was reported that Tarrant's salary at Capital was £1 million pa.^[1] He presented 4,425 programmes in total, with the show ending on the 2 April 2004. After being inducted in the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in December 2003,^[8] he was replaced by Johnny Vaughan. is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Radio Academy is registered charity which acts as a professional body for the radio industry in the UK. Its mission is the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence throughout the UK radio industry. The Academy supports its sister organisation the Student Radio Association. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Johnny Vaughan (born July 16, 1967) is an English writer and broadcaster. ...

Present career

Tarrant combined his radio day job with many TV projects of varying quality and success, including the early 1990s ITV quiz show Lose A Million, before he became the host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and re-established his credentials with a national audience. Tarrant's catchphrases on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? include "Is that your final answer?" and "But we don't want to give you that!". The show has helped to make him very wealthy, with a reported salary of £3.75 million plus share options,^[9] with both board game and computer versions. He has stated that he turned down an offer to host the US version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?^[1] (Regis Philbin took the job) Lose A Million was an early 1990s British game show, hosted by Chris Tarrant with voiceovers by Honor Blackman. ... Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (born August 25, 1931) is an Emmy Award-winning American television personality and occasional actor known for his roles as a talk show host, game show host, and presenter at various events. ...

From 1996 to 1999, he also presented the UK version of Man O Man on ITV. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ...

Tarrant presented a one-off show on BBC Radio 2 during Christmas 2005 and 2006 and appeared as a celebrity guest on ITV1's The Mint. He is a Non-Executive Director of Celador Radio Broadcasting and an executive and associate of Sound TV. BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBCs national radio stations and the most popular station in the UK. As well as having most listeners nationally, it ranks first in all regions above local radio stations. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ITV1 is the name, in England, Wales and the Scottish borders, for a terrestrial, free-to-air television channel, broadcast in the United Kingdom by the ITV network. ... The Mint is a live, late night, interactive quiz show with celebrity guests and live studio contestants filmed in a large extravagant set designed to look like the inside of a mansion. ... A non-executive director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. ... Celador is an independent production company formed in 1983. ... Sound TV is a television channel following the tradition of the variety show, which has not been popular in Britain since the 1980s. ...

On 10 July 2006 Tarrant was awarded an honorary doctorate degree for his services to the entertainment industry, at Aston University in Birmingham.^[10] is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Aston University from the Aston Expressway Aston University is a plate glass campus university, situated on a 40-acre (0. ...

At the end of 2006 he took an unusual career move in making a documentary about the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.

On 18 May 2007, Tarrant made a memorable appearance as guest host on BBC's satirical current affairs quiz Have I Got News For You. Throughout the show he was constantly mocked, especially by Ian Hislop, for his maritial problems and recent alleged fracas in an Indian restaurant. At one point during the show, Tarrant quipped "you can see why people only do this job once". is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show; produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been running since 1990. ... Ian Hislop (born 13 July 1960) is the editor of British satirical magazine Private Eye, a team captain on the popular satirical current affairs quiz Have I Got News for You and a comedy scriptwriter. ...

On 16 June 2007 Chris joined Sally James and Lenny Henry to present a 25th Anniversary edition of Tiswas. It was shown on ITV and featured celebrities discussing their thoughts of Tiswas as children, as well as appearances from children and guests who had appeared on the show during its original run. is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Sally James (born May 10th 1950) was a presenter on the ITV Saturday morning childrens show Tiswas from 1977 until it ended in 1982. ... Lenworth George Henry CBE, (born 29 August 1958), is a British writer, comedian and actor. ... Tiswas was an anarchic Saturday morning childrens British TV show which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ...

On 15 September 2007 he began hosting a new show called The Great Pretender on ITV1 in which contestants had to guess who had the highest score to win a grand prize. However it was axed after just one series. is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Great Pretender was a popular song by The Platters. ... ITV1 is the name, in England, Wales and the Scottish borders, for a terrestrial, free-to-air television channel, broadcast in the United Kingdom by the ITV network. ...

In 2008 he is to host two new shows called 'Its not what you know' in which contestants can win £150,000 even without knowing the answer and 'Support your team' in which contestants will win money if their premiership team wins^{[citation needed]}. 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

Recently he has appeared on Classic Gold Radio.

He is soon to host "An Audience Without Jeremy Beadle", a tribute show by ITV. It will be shown in May 2008.

Personal life

Tarrant met his second wife Ingrid Dupre-Walsh when they both worked for TV-am. The couple married in 1991, but are currently separated after Tarrant had an encounter with a blonde lady in a Surrey nightclub in Esher, and then admitted a "close" relationship with Fiona McKechnie, a schoolteacher and co-patron for Headway.^[11] After a series of tabloid stories, on 18 September 2006 the couple announced that they were separating.^[12] The couple previously lived with their two children, daughter Sammy and son Toby in Esher, plus two children from Ingrid's previous marriage, Dexter and Fier. Tarrant also has two children from a previous marriage to Sheila Tarrant, Helen and Jennifer. On 30 November 2006 Chris and Ingrid were interviewed separately on the Biography Channel and clips of it were shown on GMTV to talk about the downfall of their relationship. Chris did not seem sorry about the break up; he was quoted as saying, "Well, I was a naughty boy," and said about Ingrid, "She wouldn't trust me with a pint of milk." Ingrid Tarrant (born 1954 in Elstree, England) is a British television presenter and former wife of Chris Tarrant. ... TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast in the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1992. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... GMTV (Good Morning Television) is a national British breakfast television station owned by ITV plc (75%) and The Walt Disney Company (25%). It has held the license for the breakfast Channel 3 franchise since 1993, when it outbid the previous 6am-9. ...

In June 2000, Tarrant's River Thames launch boat the "Ben Gunn" was vandalised and burnt at its mooring in East Molesey.^[13] Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... This article is about the River Thames in southern England. ... Molesey is a place in the Elmbridge district of Surrey. ...

Charity work

Tarrant's charity work, for which he received an OBE in 2004^[14] includes: being an ambassador for the homeless charity, Centrepoint; Trustee/Patron of The New School at West Heath for disadvantaged children (the school previously being a private school for girls that the late Diana, Princess of Wales attended); patron of Milly's Fund, set up in memory of murdered Surrey teenager "Milly" Dowler; patron of the Phoenix Centre for children with special needs. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Centrepoint is a United Kingdom charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, young homeless people. ... The word trustee is a legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of a beneficiary. ... ... The Old School part of the school buildings. ... Diana Spencer redirects here. ... This article is about the English county. ... Amanda Jane Milly Dowler (June 25, 1988 – c. ...

He was a patron of the Headway Thames Valley, until details of his affair with trustee Fiona McKechnie became public and he resigned.^[15]

2007 arrest

At approximately 10pm on 13 May 2007, Tarrant was arrested on suspicion of assault at an Indian restaurant and released on police bail. The incident took place at the MemSaab Restaurant in Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, where Tarrant, who had been joking with a couple dining at an adjacent table, threw an item of cutlery towards the man.^[16][17] is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see Nottingham (disambiguation). ...

Tarrant admitted to the BBC that he did jokingly "lob" some cutlery onto the couple's table after asking them to leave him alone to discuss work with his colleagues. He said: "I've no idea what his [the accuser's] motives were - it genuinely makes no sense. I got back from the station at 1 am and to this minute I am completely bemused by what happened."^[18] For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

On 25 May 2007 he was formally cautioned by the police with regard to the incident.^[19] is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... A police caution is an alternative to prosecution available to be administered by the police in the United Kingdom to less serious offenders. ...

As a result of this arrest, he was ranked number 99 on BBC Three's 'The Most Annoying People Of The Year 2007'.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see number 99. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 3. ...

Trivia

• Whilst he lived in a mini-van (registration 161 GLO), for six months in the school grounds where he taught, the postman would deliver mail to the car. A friend once sent him a letter addressed to 161 GLO, Sprules Road, London SE4 and the postman knew exactly where to find him.^[20]
• In exchange for a free publicity snap, he was given the number plate CHU 8B after his favourite fish - the chub.^[21]
• He featured in an advert for Brain Training on the Nintendo DS in which he suffers marital problems for forgetting their anniversary. Ironically, he and his wife announced that they were to split on 18 September, a few weeks after the advert was aired.
• He was voted #38 in ITV's "TV's 50 Greatest Stars".
• Winner of the "Lifetime Achievement" 2006 UK comedy award.
• He is known for going into pubs and when they are playing a millionaire game, he sneaks up on them and asks "is that your final answer?".

This article describes the European chub, Leuciscus (Squalius) cephalus. ... Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day , Professor Ryūta Kawashima of Tōhoku Universitys Centre for Collaborative Research on Future Technology Presents: Train Your Brain-DS Training for Adults) is an educational title for the Nintendo DS. Marketed for adults, the game is based on a... The Nintendo DS (sometimes abbreviated NDS or more commonly DS) is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Tarrant on TV
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (general game format)
• Endurance
• Bong Game

In the United Kingdom, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers a maximum cash prize of one million pounds for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. ... Za Gaman ) The Endurance (sic) was a Japanese television show from the 1980s. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Independent, 8th January 2001.
2. ^ http://www.aston.ac.uk/about/news/060710.jsp
3. ^ Tarrant is `deeply honoured' by OBE
4. ^ BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | TV Tarrant in the spotlight
5. ^ The face - Times Online
6. ^ http://www.aston.ac.uk/about/news/060710.jsp
7. ^ BBC News | UK | Sun apologises in royal picture row
8. ^ http://www.radioacademy.org/halloffame/tarrant_c/index.shtml
9. ^ IQAGB.co.uk - View topic - Chris Tarrant - "Two More Years"
10. ^ http://www.aston.ac.uk/about/news/060710.jsp
11. ^ The blonde at the centre of Chris Tarrant's marriage problems | the Daily Mail
12. ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Tarrant confirms marriage is over
13. ^ BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Tarrant fury after boat fire
14. ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Tarrant 'proud' to receive honour
15. ^ Chris Tarrant quits tryst fund | The Sun |HomePage|News
16. ^ The Guardian - Tarrant held over alleged assault
17. ^ Metro - Chris Tarrant arrested for 'assault'
18. ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV's Tarrant 'bemused' by arrest
19. ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Tarrant cautioned over curry row
20. ^ Me and my motors: Chris Tarrant - Times Online
21. ^ Top 10: celebrity number plates - Top 10 cars | MSN Cars UK

External links

• Chris Tarrant Site
• TV Tarrant in the spotlight, BBC News Online, 31 May 1999
• Tarrant 'most watched' on TV, BBC News Online, 8 June 2001
• Capital Radio 95.8's Website
• About.com's Profile of Chris Tarrant
• Tiswas Online
• Chris Tarrant soaks ITV's Keith Wilkinson (reporter)