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The Big Breakfast

Where life used to start at 7. (January 2014)

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MA
mannewskev
Didn't they not get on from pretty much the beginning though, with news of this breaking in march '96? No relaunch was planned at that time surely? I wonder why they didn't get on and how it used to manifest itself between them.
WH
Whataday Founding member
I think if there were any problems, Mark was very fond of Gaby, and Zoe would never measure up to her in his eyes, so it could have started from there.

However, even now they both deny it was anywhere near as bad as was made out. If you ask other people from around that time, although they didn't gel personally, they didn't hate each other and were professional throughout. Zoe's beef seemed to be with the producers who she accused of trying to turn her into something she wasn't.

There was a story that Zoe 'stormed out' of an awards show because Mark said something like 'let's not forget this is for Gaby Roslin too' but they always claimed it was tabloid nonsense.
SW
Steve Williams
.There was a story that Zoe 'stormed out' of an awards show because Mark said something like 'let's not forget this is for Gaby Roslin too' but they always claimed it was tabloid nonsense.


Yes, that was the story that I remember faithfully cutting out of the papers, and then sent it for consideration for Morning Glory. In fact the awards ceremony was the TRIC Awards and if anything it illustrates what a waste of time the TRIC Awards are because the show was absolutely dreadful at that point and shouldn't have been winning awards for anything. But I'm thinking, yes, it probably was because Mark liked Gaby a lot and just didn't think Zoe was up to it. I do remember, after they'd had that very, very long break from working with each other, the first week they were back together there was a live wedding in the house and they did a trailer involving Mark and Zoe getting married, which I assumed was some sort of joke on behalf of the production team.

I don't think it was professional jealousy from Mark at Zoe being the big star, because I think he was just delighted to still be on the show. I remember when Zoe arrived, she was on the front page of Sky magazine (remember that, unrelated to Sky TV, the unisex youth magazine) but Mark was also interviewed in a box-out in the article and he talked about how six months before that he assumed he was on his way out, but now he was pleased to be part of the new team.

As you say, Zoe said she didn't think the producers knew what they wanted, whether they wanted her to be just the same as Gaby or a new young presenter, and she said they used to keep messing with her hair and making her wear suits (like in that clip) which she didn't like. In fact it's amazing how few people remember she even did The Big Breakfast.

There was another moment during the era which I vividly remember but nobody else appeared to even see, which was when Mark threw to another item but his mike was still live because you could clearly hear him shout "Oh, you f*cking idiot" at someone. But there was no apology or anything, presumably nobody was that bothered about the show at that point.
MA
mannewskev
Was there an apology for Kim Wilde swearing twice?
WH
Whataday Founding member
As you say, Zoe said she didn't think the producers knew what they wanted, whether they wanted her to be just the same as Gaby or a new young presenter, and she said they used to keep messing with her hair and making her wear suits (like in that clip) which she didn't like. In fact it's amazing how few people remember she even did The Big Breakfast.


I know, and that's despite the show still getting around 700,000 at the time Mark & Zoe were at the helm.
MA
mannewskev
What ratings does Channel 4's 7 - 9 breakfast offering get now?
JB
JasonB
Apparently Chris Evans announced on his breakfast show today that Channel 4 is to bring back TFI Friday in 2015. Maybe hope for the return of the BB could be round the corner?
MA
mannewskev
Is 2015 the 20th anniversary? Is that the hook?
DJ
DJGM
No, TFI Friday's 20th anniversary would actually be in 2016 ... IIRC the first show was broadcast in February 1996.

In a not entirely unrelated matter, Chris Evans other entertainment show, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush ... I seem to recall that he sold the format and rights to another TV or media company. Does anyone here know who now owns the format and rights to that show, or if Chris Evans has since bought them back?
Last edited by DJGM on 31 July 2014 8:39pm - 3 times in total
GE
thegeek Founding member
Ginger Media was bought by SMG - a quick look at Wikipedia shows that they're now Ginger Productions and still owned by STV Group. There's no mention on the STV Productions website about what formats they might own, though.
SW
Steve Williams
Ginger Media was bought by SMG - a quick look at Wikipedia shows that they're now Ginger Productions and still owned by STV Group. There's no mention on the STV Productions website about what formats they might own, though.


A hilariously out of date and self-penned Wikipedia entry as well.
WH
Whataday Founding member
Ginger Media was bought by SMG - a quick look at Wikipedia shows that they're now Ginger Productions and still owned by STV Group. There's no mention on the STV Productions website about what formats they might own, though.


A hilariously out of date and self-penned Wikipedia entry as well.


The format is owned by DRG (http://www.drg.tv/ProgramDetails.aspx?ProgramDetail=10035)

The most recent version was a revival in Denmark in 2012:

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