Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
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| Don't Forget Your Toothbrush | |
|---|---|
 The British version set. |
|
| Format | Light Entertainment |
| Presented by | Chris Evans |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Ginger Productions |
| Running time | 60mins (inc. comms) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
| Original run | 12 February 1994 – 25 February 1995 |
Don't Forget Your Toothbrush was a Saturday night light entertainment show originally broadcast in the United Kingdom in 1994, and has also been adapted in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Contents |
[edit] Versions
[edit] British
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 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 ("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 stars that only a true fan would value. During the quiz round, Chris Evans usually between questions asked 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 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 as a team. If they won, they went to some exotic destination (such as Mauritius) immediately after the show. If they lost, went to a less exotic place (such as Margate) chosen for its alliteration to the first.
The hostess for the first series was Evans' then girlfriend Rachel Tatton-Brown. 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.
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."
A memorable feature of 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 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.
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.
[edit] Australian
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]
Executive producer Sandy Scott was previously involved with Family Feud and C'mon, Have A Go!.
[edit] American
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] 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 [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 Portugal, Não se esqueça da sua escova de dentes was broadcast by SIC TV from 1994-1995 and presented by Teresa Guilherme.
- 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 Norway, "Glem ikke tannbørsten" ran in 2000, hosted by Paal Tarjei Aasheim
[edit] External links
- Don't Forget Your Toothbrush at UKgameshows.com
