…on Television

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...on Television
Format Clip Show
Starring Clive James
(1982 - 1987)
Keith Floyd
(1988 - 1989)
Chris Tarrant
(1990 - present)
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Production
Producer(s) LWT
(now branded ITV Productions)
Running time 30 minutes
(including adverts)
Broadcast
Original channel ITV
Picture format 4:3
(1982 - 1999)
16:9
(2000 - present)
Original run 1982 – present

"...on Television" or "...on TV", is a long running late-night television programme on ITV. The programme is a clips show that features a number of unusual or (often unintentionally) amusing television programmes and commercials from around the world linked by Chris Tarrant, who has fronted the show, now named "Tarrant on TV" for over 15 years.

The show started off in 1982, hosted by the Australian television critic and satirist Clive James. However, when Clive defected to the BBC, a new replacement host was needed and so celebrity chef Keith Floyd was brought in for only two series before Chris Tarrant took over in 1990.

Tarrant on TV showed bizarre clips from all over the world but most notably from the far eastern countries of Japan and Korea. Clips vary from a Japanese crying contest, a Japanese contraception advert and the Japanese TV show Za Gaman in which contestants must endure the most pain, to a profane North Korean propaganda film, and an advert showing eggs being fired from the bottom. Tarrant on TV also covered the more violent and unusual shows of the Jerry Springer Show. Many of the clips viewers may find offensive often display nudity, strong language, crude or dark humour and violence.

At this time it's unknown if there's going to be a new series for 2008 as Tarrant has been in a recent scandal about his alcoholism, and has recently been presenting more gameshows for ITV and Challenge.

It's theme tune is Syd Dale's "The Penthouse Suite".

[edit] Shows from around the world

These are the shows that a majority of clips are taken from:

  • The Japanese TV show Za Gaman aka Endurance. (mainly in the Clive James shows and 10 Years on Television - best of show)
  • American comedy series The Man Show (Tarrant late 1990s/2000s)
  • The Jerry Springer Show (early 1990s, before the full show was broadcast by ITV).