The Big Breakfast

Looking at the 8am sweep around the living room, I've only just noticed that the 'brick' render around the chimney breast that was there in 2000 and 2002 is not there. I wonder if it was removed and kept in storage, then put back when the relaunch failed or whether it was still there but boxed in.

Did the titles in 2001 debut in July? I was watching an episode from the first week of July 2001 and the new titles were in use here but the news still had the purple re-launch background with the new yellow logo replacing the old one.

I remember when the 2001 revamp had been undone, Richard Whiteley was a guest and said something along the lines of ”the party's back on", which is how it felt with the living room brightened up and Richard Bacon at the helm.

I'm not sure why nostalgic journalists (example) seem to write down Richard Bacon's presenting. He was rather good; just a shame he didn't have much in terms of a female personality to bounce off. If the show was given just a bit longer I reckon it could have had a third 'golden era' with him as the main personality.

I thought he was great. His paper reviews towards the end were particularly cutting and laugh out loud.

He's always been good and still is today.

I miss his old XFM radio shows. They were anarchic and hilarious and nobody seems to know that he did them.

I remember them. They were, as you say, quite good.

I think he lacked the warmth of Johnny and some other previous presenters. Johnny would be quite cutting in his newspaper reviews, but was always up for a giggle.

He also very obviously had no time for Amanda, which didn't help.

I wasn't a huge fan - he was OK but very much there until someone better came along rather than a lead presenter to be proud of. I would imagine had the show remained on air he wouldn't have been part of the next revamp.

I agree. In my mind he was to Johnny Vaughan what Richard Orford was to Chris Evans.

Paul Tonkinson was the unfortunate scapegoat really - I guess that's largely due to the shadow cast by Johnny. He wasn't really any more to blame for the supposed failure of the 2001 relaunch than Donna or Amanda, and was certainly a far more competent host than Rick Adams.

Please add me to the list of people who thought Richard Bacon was very good. His genuine enthusiasm for television, both being on it and watching it, was great. As has been said, it was a shame he seemed to be paired with Amanda Byram for most of his time there as I don't think she was right for the Big Breakfast at all.

Here is a charming moment from September 2000 where Richard Bacon talks to a man who has had a bit of a public falling out with Cilla Black despite the fact that they have known each other since the 1970s. Quite a moving story but look how happy he is by the end of the show. Perfect example of the power of the Big Breakfast. The video starts with a brief mention of gay sex.