Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
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| Don't Forget Your Toothbrush | |
|---|---|
 The British version set. |
|
| Format | Entertainment show |
| Run time | 60 minutes |
| Starring | Chris Evans |
| Channel | Channel 4 |
| Production company | Ginger Productions |
| Air dates | 1994 – 1995 |
Don't Forget Your Toothbrush is a television entertainment show originally broadcast in the United Kingdom in 1994, and has also been adapted in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
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.
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").
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.
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 could be unemployed or 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.
The hostess for the first season was Evans' then girlfriend Rachel Tatton-Brown. She was replaced in the second season by Jadine Doran.
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."
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.
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 immediately after the show.
[edit] Australian version
The show first aired on August 15, 1995 on the Nine Network, hosted by Tim Ferguson and Wendy Mooney. It was broadcast on Tuesday evenings and repeated on Saturday mornings.
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. [1]
[edit] American version
One season was broadcast on Tuesday evenings 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.
[edit] Other versions
- 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 [2].
- 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. [3].
- In France, N'oubliez pas votre brosse à dents was broadcast in 1994 and presented by Nagui [4].
- In Germany, Pack die Zahnbürste ein was broadcast by SAT.1 from 1994 to 1996 and presented by Ingolf Lück, and later Elmar Hörig [5].
- 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.
