FL
Time to reminisce with the first ever episode?
It's interesting to watch back now and see the beginnings of what it evolved into. It's noticeably quieter than in later years, but it seems really full with a lot of shorter segments coming from all over the house - Chris and Gaby don't even sit together at what became the "main" static presenting area until 20 minutes in. It feels like the house is brimming with stuff happening throughout it, with the presenters basically popping from room to room to catch up with different people. And of course they truly make use of it being in an actual house - the family literally eating breakfast at the table whilst chatting, both presenters stepping outside to check the weather, Joanna Lumley just casually doing the dishes in the background of a link etc.
It really was great from the off.
28 years ago today breakfast TV changed forever.
Well, nine and a half years anyway.
Well, nine and a half years anyway.
Time to reminisce with the first ever episode?
It's interesting to watch back now and see the beginnings of what it evolved into. It's noticeably quieter than in later years, but it seems really full with a lot of shorter segments coming from all over the house - Chris and Gaby don't even sit together at what became the "main" static presenting area until 20 minutes in. It feels like the house is brimming with stuff happening throughout it, with the presenters basically popping from room to room to catch up with different people. And of course they truly make use of it being in an actual house - the family literally eating breakfast at the table whilst chatting, both presenters stepping outside to check the weather, Joanna Lumley just casually doing the dishes in the background of a link etc.
It really was great from the off.
SO
Yes it was surprising how little they had to tinker with it over the following weeks and months. Almost unheard of for a new TV format. I remember watching that first morning and thinking how different it seemed to all the pre-publicity which focused heavily on Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, who- particularly in Bob’s case- actually only played quite a small part in the mix.
SW
Bob and Paula were very famous at the time, mind. Gaby didn't appear in any of the promotion because she didn't get the job until a few weeks before it began, after Emma Forbes pulled out. The promotion revolved around Bob, Paula and Chris and to a lesser extent Mark Lamarr. I knew Chris Evans from TV Mayhem the previous year and Radio 1 given his short-lived spell on the station that summer, but he wasn't really very famous at all, certainly outside London.
I was there from day one, because I'd been watching The Channel Four Daily and I was quite sad when that ended, only to immediately forget about it after a few minutes of The Big Breakfast. But in Morning Glory they say they showed the pilot to a load of focus groups and they all absolutely hated it, to the extent they had to lock the doors to stop them walking out.
Yes it was surprising how little they had to tinker with it over the following weeks and months. Almost unheard of for a new TV format. I remember watching that first morning and thinking how different it seemed to all the pre-publicity which focused heavily on Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, who- particularly in Bob’s case- actually only played quite a small part in the mix.
Bob and Paula were very famous at the time, mind. Gaby didn't appear in any of the promotion because she didn't get the job until a few weeks before it began, after Emma Forbes pulled out. The promotion revolved around Bob, Paula and Chris and to a lesser extent Mark Lamarr. I knew Chris Evans from TV Mayhem the previous year and Radio 1 given his short-lived spell on the station that summer, but he wasn't really very famous at all, certainly outside London.
I was there from day one, because I'd been watching The Channel Four Daily and I was quite sad when that ended, only to immediately forget about it after a few minutes of The Big Breakfast. But in Morning Glory they say they showed the pilot to a load of focus groups and they all absolutely hated it, to the extent they had to lock the doors to stop them walking out.
BC
I don't know why I remember it, but I have a clear memory of watching a sketch about the Big Breakfast on Bobby Davro's BBC One show which was just Bob Geldof doing everything and stamping his personality all over the show. I remember being a bit annoyed that they seemed to have only seen the publicity and not actually watched the programme they were parodying.
Blake Connolly
Founding member
I remember watching that first morning and thinking how different it seemed to all the pre-publicity which focused heavily on Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, who- particularly in Bob’s case- actually only played quite a small part in the mix.
I don't know why I remember it, but I have a clear memory of watching a sketch about the Big Breakfast on Bobby Davro's BBC One show which was just Bob Geldof doing everything and stamping his personality all over the show. I remember being a bit annoyed that they seemed to have only seen the publicity and not actually watched the programme they were parodying.
JC
Time to reminisce with the first ever episode?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrpD8whbFZQ
It's interesting to watch back now and see the beginnings of what it evolved into. It's noticeably quieter than in later years, but it seems really full with a lot of shorter segments coming from all over the house - Chris and Gaby don't even sit together at what became the "main" static presenting area until 20 minutes in.
They used the house much more freely in the early years. Johnny seemed to want an audience as much as possible and only the living room could really be set up for that.
Ironically though the show ended up morphing into the parody version of itself.
28 years ago today breakfast TV changed forever.
Well, nine and a half years anyway.
Well, nine and a half years anyway.
Time to reminisce with the first ever episode?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrpD8whbFZQ
It's interesting to watch back now and see the beginnings of what it evolved into. It's noticeably quieter than in later years, but it seems really full with a lot of shorter segments coming from all over the house - Chris and Gaby don't even sit together at what became the "main" static presenting area until 20 minutes in.
They used the house much more freely in the early years. Johnny seemed to want an audience as much as possible and only the living room could really be set up for that.
Quote:
I remember being a bit annoyed that they seemed to have only seen the publicity and not actually watched the programme they were parodying.
Ironically though the show ended up morphing into the parody version of itself.
WH
Bob and Paula were very famous at the time, mind.
Also as Richard & Judy were in their heyday at that time, I think a lot of the pre-show publicity fed into that sort of husband and wife dynamic.
Whataday
Founding member
Yes it was surprising how little they had to tinker with it over the following weeks and months. Almost unheard of for a new TV format. I remember watching that first morning and thinking how different it seemed to all the pre-publicity which focused heavily on Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, who- particularly in Bob’s case- actually only played quite a small part in the mix.
Bob and Paula were very famous at the time, mind.
Also as Richard & Judy were in their heyday at that time, I think a lot of the pre-show publicity fed into that sort of husband and wife dynamic.
DA
I've mentioned this before and the response was negative, but does anyone remember an OB on the Big Breakfast which involved the presenter (possibly Richard Bacon, or his predecessor) and the cameraman dangling off the side of a building on abseil ropes? At one point the view from the camera suddenly tilted up into the sky (accompanied by a "wuh-oh!" from the cameraman), then spun, then there was a quick glimpse of the ground and the signal was lost.
It went back to the house and it was all taken in stride by the presenters, but I was watching in horror as I thought I'd just seen a cameraman plummet to the ground. I think they got the presenter back on the phone later, or on audio only, who confirmed everyone was alright. I can't remember if they confirmed that the camera had been dropped or just kept vague about it being a technical fault.
It went back to the house and it was all taken in stride by the presenters, but I was watching in horror as I thought I'd just seen a cameraman plummet to the ground. I think they got the presenter back on the phone later, or on audio only, who confirmed everyone was alright. I can't remember if they confirmed that the camera had been dropped or just kept vague about it being a technical fault.
SO
Poor Mark had to work so hard when Zoe became his co-host. Watching that clip above he almost seems a bit controlling and bossy, but I think he’s having to fill the vacuum where Zoe’s presence should be.
Zoe is quite candid about how she didn’t enjoy her time on the show. And of course L&K showcased her talent much more. But she was a bit of a disappointment from day one frankly. And after more than three months of pre-publicity before her first show, she was gone within about seven months I think.
I hope Steve Williams has more to say on this, but the show presumably chose to save Zoe and sacrifice Mark.....yet he had been the more loyal servant and possibly had more to give.
Zoe is quite candid about how she didn’t enjoy her time on the show. And of course L&K showcased her talent much more. But she was a bit of a disappointment from day one frankly. And after more than three months of pre-publicity before her first show, she was gone within about seven months I think.
I hope Steve Williams has more to say on this, but the show presumably chose to save Zoe and sacrifice Mark.....yet he had been the more loyal servant and possibly had more to give.
Last edited by Soupnzi on 29 September 2020 8:45am - 3 times in total
BR
I rated Zoe quite highly but it just didn't work with Mark at all. Was slightly better with Keith but that was never going to be a long term solution. A surprise really that they didn't try her with Richard - to my knowledge he didn't present in the house in between his initial stint with Gaby and hosting with Denise after the 1996 revamp.