Chris Tarrant OBE

Chris Tarrant OBE

Chris Tarrant is regarded by many as the king of popular broadcasting.

With his popular breakfast show on Capital Radio and his regular peaktime appearances on ITV he's the biggest personality on UK commercial radio and has done wonders for the popularity of ITV's Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, which is now the world's most successful quiz show. He started his career as an English teacher before he got his first TV break in Tiswas. In 1984, Tarrant joined Capital Radio as a presenter, initially presenting the station's lunchtime show, then from 1987 until 2004 he hosted Capital Breakfast. The show was immensely popular, increasing Capital Radio's audience share in London. On 1 January 1993, when Thames Television dissolved and was replaced by Carlton Television, Tarrant hosted the first programme of the franchise, A Carlton New Year. Also in 1993, Tarrant hosted Lose A Million, in which contestants started off with a million pounds and were required to lose it by aiming to incorrectly answer a set of questions. He also hosted the UK edition of Man O Man.

Burgeoning Popularity

Tarrant is also the long-term host of Tarrant on TV, a programme which shows clips featuring a number of unusual television programmes from around the world. He has presented the show since 1990. He began to host the popular television quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 1998. The show has gone on to have series in over 100 other countries, and in 2002, the UK version merged with the Irish version. In 2002, he did voice over work on the film Johnny English, where he starred as himself hosting a radio presentation of Savage's coronation. In June 2008 it was announced he would return to radio, hosting a weekly Saturday morning show for the GMG Radio network of stations including London's 102.2 Smooth Radio, Real Radio (Scotland) and the North West's Century Radio.

Charity Work

Chris' charity work, for which he received an OBE in 2004 includes: being an ambassador for the homeless charity, Centrepoint; Trustee/Patron of The New School at West Heath for disadvantaged children (the school previously being a private school for girls that Diana, Princess of Wales attended); patron of Milly's Fund, set up in memory of murdered Surrey teenager "Milly" Dowler; patron of the Phoenix Centre for children with special needs. Chris is currently in constant demand for appearances in Television Commercials, Conference hosting and is also a popular after-dinner speaker.