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t seems that everything Chris Evans touches turns to gold, and this now includes Friday night television. His new series TFI Friday (aka Thank Four lt's Friday) promises to see more revelry courtesy of the red-headed rascal as he offers a selection of the best in music, news and interviews, live from London's Riverside Studios. And that's not to mention the top featurettes, like the debating sash, with such hard-hitting topics as "Should Noel's House Party be scrapped?" argued on air. The publicity describes his choice of music as "eclectic", with a mix of the best bands In the world, from Black Grape to Blur. The hour..fong show will see live sets from at least three artists, various guests and Evans' own spin on the week's news and views. In tandem with this new prog, of course, is his muchlauded radio show. Early last year Radio 1 boss Matthew Bannister called on Chris to give the Breakfast Show a much needed relaunch after the departure of Steve Wright. The critics said it was the biggest gamble of his career, but this wasn't a problem for our Chris as it proved to be a great success. But he wasn't always the mega-star that we know and love, oh no. Born on April1, 1966, his first radio job was as an assistant to that ooh, inconsiderable talent Timmy Mallet on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio. I After a break while he set up his Kinky's Kissogram business, he returns to Piccadilly with his own show in 1986. Unfortunately, a few, er, on-listener friendly comments about things like cooking cats get him into trouble. He resigns. However, jobs followed on Virgin and GLR, culminating with Chris presenting a Radio 1 show called Too Much Gravy. He's spotted by Channel Four and hits the big time with The Big Breakfast. Millions of people now wake up to Chris' chirpy smile and witty repartee, and feel much happier going off to work I college in the morning. He makes way for Cheggers in 1994 and sobs on screen. Aaah. Through Ginger Productions he creates Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, which successfully runs for two series as Chris develops a snazzy line in multi-coloured suits, aided and abetted along the way by Jools Holland. He blubs for the second time as the prog draws to a close after two successful series. And now he's back with his new Ginger Production; and this time he's not blubbing! DCheck out TFI Friday onsurprisingly enough -Fridays on Channel Four at 6.25pm.
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en-ery's ... Hen-ery's ... you must know Henry's Cat. Yes. you must have seen the movies, you must have read the book. He's a mellow, yellow feline so why not take a second look. Badly drawn, badly animated and with terrible accents (all orchestrated by the genius Bob Godfrey) Henry's Cat was of course completely brilliant. A character we could all empathise with, Henry's Cat liked nothing better than eating cake and sleeping and this is what he spent a large part of episodes doing. Many adventures attempting to defeat the evil RumBaaBaa actually
only took place in his dreams and ended with comforting inevitability as Henry's Cat woke up in his nice warm bed. His charm lay in his utter naivete planned trips to the moon or searches for buried treasure generally only succeeded in engaging the wrath of Farmer Giles. His most carefully laid plans were often destroyed by his insatiable appetite as he sensibly concluded that nothing in the world was more important than ice cream. And how can we forget Chris Rabbit, the oversize blue bunny whose preposterous ideas always seemed to convince the equally gullible Henry's Cat. Cheap, pointless and infantile, Henry's Cat was animation in its prime. The fact that no character called Henry existed summed up the beautiful irrelevance of the whole programme. He knows everything about nothing and not so much about that, so if you know someone who knows what he knows then you must know Henry's Cat. Meeeiiiooow! Sam Richards
Francols TruHaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema BBC2 Wed March 8 ·11.1511m Twelve years after his death, a homage to Truffaut rightly regards him as one of the greatest film-makers Europe has ever produced. Charlotte Rampling narrates this documentary about the maker of such classics as The 400 Blows and Jules et Jim; tracing his progress from neglected child to internationally-acclaimed auteur. For film buffs everywhere.
AbsoluteiJ Fabulous BBC1 ThUrs March 7 •
9.3011m
Another chance to see the first ever episode of the classic belly-andcoke sitcom. A must for ageing confused hippies and introspective
111e Munsters: Lere Cemes to Mocllln lrd RlllldS BBC2 Frt March 8 • Bpm Intrigue of a romantic nature today as an elderly relative, a box filled with money, and a handsome stranger are added to the already volatile mix - I predict dastardly deeds and thrilling deviousness aplenty - be a devil, skip Home and Away!
Film: Coming To America BBC1 Ft1 Marcll8 • 9.30pm Okay, it's slushy, it's predictable, and in parts it's silly, but Eddie Murphy lifts the tone and justifies the tag 'comedy'; for pure and easy escapism. you could do worse. • Worth staying in on a Friday night for? In Norwich, definitely!!
Cinema 1DO: Laurel and Hardy Radio• Thurs March 7- 2.0211m Robbie Coltrane plays Oliver Hardy, known throughout his life as "Babe" - the mind boggles. John Sessions is Laurel, in an adaptation of the stage play which promises to dish the dirt about Hardy's relationship with his mother, and the duo's beginnings and subsequent success. What you always wanted to know.
In Concert: Oasis Radio 1 Mon March 11· 9pm Riding high on the crest of half the female population's wanting to do things to one of the Gallagher brothers, (or in some cases, both , I am told ... ), the fab five provide two hours of stonking music recorded live at Glastonbury festival.
n recent it has been said that it is the BBC and C4 telly companies that have been responsible for the majority of film production in Great Britain. Whilst it would be premature to To repeat the cliche that the British are coming {especially launch when referring to Hugh Grant), there have undoubtedly UK Gold 's been successes, one of which was from BBC films, new latenamely Priest. Starring Unus Roache, this Is an night slot , they evocative look at the life of a new priest arriving are offering ten at an inner city parish in Liverpool, and the pairs of Calvin problems he faces trying to come to terms Klein style boxer with his vows and the society which shorts in lycra printed greets him. lt has just been released with Bottom! If you are an :. on video, and we've got five avid UK Gold fan, or (we 're to give away. Just answer this feeling generous), even if you question: Roberl Carlyle eoaren't, you 'll be delighted to know stars in Priest, but what that your marvellous TV & Radio Ed recently released British has procured some for your very own movie does he also personal use (?). In order to be one of the star in? Answers chosen few , all you have to do is answer a postcard to the following question : Who stars alongside competitions Adrian Edmondson in Bottom? box, in Entries can be posted Hive
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in the usual way- in the competitions box in The Hive • b y March 13.
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THE EVENT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1996 11 ,1I - ~ I
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