| Eurotrash | |
|---|---|
| Format | Rapido (TV series) |
| Presented by | Antoine de Caunes Jean-Paul Gaultier |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
| Original run | 24 September 1993 – 2007 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Rapido |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Eurotrash is a 30-minute magazine-format programme in English produced by Rapido Television. It was shown in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 from 1993 and was a late-night comical review of weird and wonderful topics from around the world (despite the 'Euro' title, though it did focus on Western and central Europe for the most part). The show averaged around a 20 percent audience share, pulling in around 2-3 million viewers each week. Channel 4's Slot Average for Eurotrash's broadcast time is around 900,000 viewers, making the show an important hit for the channel.
It ran for 16 series (over 160 episodes) until 2007, making it one of the UK's longest running late-night entertainment shows. Channel 4 infrequently re-runs the series and repeats can be found on the Comedy Central (UK) Channel and Livingit. Series 1 is also now available on 4oD. After more than 10 years of broadcast, the show built up a substantial following and Eurotrash has around 15 million fans, and various fan sites.
All intellectual property rights to the series are now controlled by the production company, Rapido Television.
As of 2009, Channel 4 have no plans for any further series.
Contents |
The show was conceived in Paris for London-based Rapido Television by Peter Stuart, an American producer and director.[1] Rapido Television makes over 100 programme titles, mostly for Channel 4, and was originally launched with backing by Richard Branson. The first Eurotrash series were presented by Antoine de Caunes and Jean-Paul Gaultier, with narrative voiceovers by British comic actress Maria McErlane. Gaultier left at the end of series 7 and de Caunes then co-presented with a range of guest presenters, including Swedish actress/model Victoria Silvstedt. A number of features and stars survived from series one, including Pepe and Popo, two cardboard giraffes made from toilet paper tubes, and the Belgian singer Eddy Wally. Victoria Silvstedt was a semi-regular during 2003, often appearing in the studio with de Caunes to present the Naked Germans of the Week feature. Graham Norton also featured as a roving reporter in series 9.
In 2009 digital channel Living TV began airing a series of new compilation episodes under the title 'Eurotrash: The Sexy Bits'. These included new voiceovers from original narrator Maria McErlane.
Despite being a big budget show (around £400,000 per hour to make) the programme was surreal and had a deliberate low budget feel. Bright colourful pop-art studio backgrounds used to be built full size, but in later years chromakey was used with model shots, adding to the comical 'trashy' feel. Studio material was shot in Paris. Topics covered included rabbit-showjumping, singing dogs, 'nude cleaning services', magicians, porn stars (such as the late Lolo Ferrari) and Europe's very worst (but usually popular in their host country) bands and singers.
The series was voiced by Maria McErlane. Davina McCall provided English voice translations in series 1. In later years Kate Robbins provided voice dubbing for the strange continental "stars", which she performed in Yorkshire and other English regional accents and similar quirky anglicised effects. Johnny Daukes, former singer and writer with the indie Band FIN in the 1990s, provided male voices in a similar fashion throughout the series.
One issue had an obituary of Lolo Ferrari which was produced and broadcast with straight dubbing as a mark of respect, which stood out from the usual comic tone of the programme.