Editing Chris Tarrant

{{Short description|English broadcaster (born 1946)}}
{{About|the English broadcaster|the Australian rules footballer|Chris Tarrant (footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Chris Tarrant
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|OBE}}
| image              = Chris_Tarrant_Phooto.jpg
| caption            = Tarrant doing stand-up comedy in 2009
| birth_name         = Christopher John Tarrant
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1946|10|10|df=y}}<ref name="Independent 1">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/chris-tarrant-confident-695677.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081216135044/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/chris-tarrant-confident-695677.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2008|title=Chris Tarrant: Confident?|work=[[The Independent]]|date=8 January 2001 | location=London | first=Deborah | last=Ross | access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Reading, Berkshire]], England, UK
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| years_active       = 1972–2024
| known_for          = ''[[Tiswas]]''<br>''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''<br>''[[Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways]]''
| education          = [[King's School, Worcester]]
| alma_mater         = [[University of Birmingham]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Broadcaster|comedian|television personality}}
| spouse             = {{ubl
| {{marriage|Sheila Robertson|1976|1982|reason=divorced}}
| {{marriage|[[Ingrid Tarrant|Ingrid Dupre-Walsh]]|1991|2007|reason=divorced}}
}}
| partner            = Jane Bird (2008–present)
| children           = 4, including [[Toby Tarrant|Toby]]
| signature          = 
}}

'''Christopher John Tarrant''' (born 10 October 1946) is a retired English broadcaster, television personality, radio DJ and stand up comedian. He is best known for presenting the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] children's television show ''[[Tiswas]]'' from 1974 to 1981, and the game show ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' from its inception in 1998 until 2014.

Tarrant's career began in 1972, when he was hired by the television broadcaster [[Associated Television|ATV]]. He presented ''[[ATV Today]],'' a [[Current affairs (news format)|current affairs]] programme serving the [[The Midlands|Midlands]] area of England, until 1982. Tarrant rose to prominence after becoming a co-host on ''Tiswas'', the children's television show broadcast on Saturday mornings from 1974 to 1981. Tarrant was a member of the [[Four Bucketeers]] group, whose single "Bucket of Water Song" reached No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart in 1980. In January 1982, along with [[Bob Carolgees]], [[John Gorman (entertainer)|John Gorman]], Randolph Sutherland and [[Lenny Henry]], Tarrant launched a late-night show, ''[[O.T.T. (TV series)|O.T.T.]]'' ("Over the Top"), thought of as an "adult" version of ''Tiswas'', which despite being short-lived, was very popular among adults. His co-host [[Sally James (presenter)|Sally James]] presented the concurrent and final series of ''Tiswas'' alone.

Tarrant was a [[Capital London|Capital Radio]] host from 1984 to 2004, presenting the early-morning show ''[[Capital Breakfast]]''. The show was highly popular, increasing Capital Radio's audience share in London. Tarrant presented the ITV game show ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' from 1998 to 2014, while also providing audio recordings for some console games, and a tabletop game made by [[Tiger Electronics]] based on the show. He recorded a total of 592 episodes across 30 series, in which five contestants won the top cash prize of £1 million. In 2012, Tarrant began a travel documentary series, ''[[Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways]],'' with locations including the [[Congo-Ocean Railway]], [[the Ghan]] across Australia and the [[Konkan Railway]] in India.

Tarrant's other television credits include ''[[...on Television|Tarrant on TV]]'', a programme that shows clips featuring a number of unusual television programmes from around the world, and ''[[Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose]]'', a programme which gives three- to six-year-olds the chance to fulfil their greatest ambitions in the adult world. He also hosted several other game shows, including ''[[It's Not What You Know]]'' and ''[[The Colour of Money (game show)|The Colour of Money]].'' Tarrant was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in 2004 for his charity work, in particular his campaigning on behalf of disadvantaged children. In 2006, he was ranked number 38 in ITV's poll of [[TV's 50 Greatest Stars]]. Tarrant announced his retirement in December 2024, after 52 years in television.

==Early life==
Christopher John Tarrant was born on 10 October 1946 in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], England, to father Basil and mother Joan Tarrant. His father had joined a territorial unit of the [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]] in 1936 and was among those [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuated from Dunkirk]] in the retreat of May 1940. He was also active in the [[Normandy landings]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/24/chris-tarrant-dad-was-my-closest-friend-who-wants-to-be-millionaire|title=Chris Tarrant: 'Dad was my closest friend'|last=Wintle|first=Angela|date=24 May 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 January 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223054/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/24/chris-tarrant-dad-was-my-closest-friend-who-wants-to-be-millionaire|archive-date=23 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Tarrant was educated as a boarder in Choir House at the [[The King's School, Worcester|King's School]], [[Worcester, England|Worcester]] from 1960 to 1964. He represented the school at hockey and cricket and gained A, B and D grades at [[A-level]] in English, history and ancient history. He then studied English at the [[University of Birmingham]], graduating in 1967.<ref name="u_birmingham">{{cite web | url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/outstandingalumni/tarrant.aspx | title=Outstanding Alumni – Chris Tarrant OBE | website=University of Birmingham | access-date=28 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044405/https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/outstandingalumni/tarrant.aspx | archive-date=28 September 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news | title=Chris Tarrant: The all-rounder | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/chris-tarrant-the-all-rounder-312063.html | access-date=28 September 2018 | newspaper=[[The Independent]] | date=12 September 2005 | author=Raymond Snoddy | author-link=Raymond Snoddy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928045530/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/chris-tarrant-the-all-rounder-312063.html | archive-date=28 September 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Tarrant worked as a [[schoolteacher]] and also briefly as a film director for the [[Central Office of Information]] before joining [[Associated Television|ATV]] in 1972 as a [[News presenter|newsreader]] on ''[[ATV Today]],'' a [[Current affairs (news format)|current affairs]] programme serving the [[The Midlands|Midlands]] area of England, until 1982''.''<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-chris-tarrant-5544520.html|title= My Life in Media: Chris Tarrant|work= The Independent|date= 22 November 2004|access-date= 28 April 2018|location= London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025258/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-chris-tarrant-5544520.html|archive-date= 29 April 2018|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Career==

=== ''Tiswas'' and ''O.T.T.'' ===
{{Main|Tiswas|O.T.T. (TV series)}}

Tarrant rose to prominence after becoming a co-presenter on ''[[Tiswas]]'', a children's television show broadcast on a Saturday morning from January 1974 to March 1981, alongside [[Sally James (presenter)|Sally James]]. It also featured the young [[Lenny Henry]] and occasionally [[Jim Davidson]] together with [[Bob Carolgees]] and his [[puppet]], Spit the Dog. [[John Gorman (entertainer)|John Gorman]], former member of [[The Scaffold]], was also a presenter.

In 1982, along with Bob Carolgees, John Gorman, Randolph Sutherland and Lenny Henry, Tarrant hosted the short-lived Saturday late-night show ''[[O.T.T. (TV series)|O.T.T.]]'' ("Over the Top"), which was billed as an adult version of ''Tiswas'' but was not such a success. Despite being short-lived, the show was very popular amongst adults. After this, Tarrant did a stint on the breakfast television station [[TV-am]]. Sally James presented the concurrent and final series of ''Tiswas'' alone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tiswasonline.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412161613/http://www.tiswasonline.com/|url-status=dead|title=Tiswas Online|archive-date=12 April 2015|website=tiswasonline.com|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>

===Capital Radio===
{{Main|Capital London|l1=Capital Radio}}
In 1984, Tarrant joined [[Capital London|Capital Radio]] as a presenter, initially presenting the station's Sunday lunchtime show before moving to a late-morning weekday slot, following David Jensen. From March 1987 until April 2004 he hosted ''[[Capital Breakfast]]''. The show was highly popular, increasing Capital Radio's audience share in London. Tarrant had regular co-presenter Kara Noble (eventually replaced by Zabe Newsome for a very short duration) as his sidekick for the early years until Noble moved to Heart FM in 1995 with regular contributions from Flying Eye traffic reporter Russ Kane and newsreader [[Howard Hughes (radio presenter)|Howard Hughes]]. It was on this show that he first coined his "Is that your final answer?" catchphrase.

At 9:00 am on 2 April 2004, after hosting 4,425 shows, 20 years on Capital Radio and giving away prizes to the value of £3.5 million, Tarrant said his farewell to the station.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/3049421-chris-tarrant-last-show-on-capital-2004|title=Chris Tarrant – last show on Capital – 2004|work=Audioboom|access-date=1 March 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225208/https://audioboom.com/posts/3049421-chris-tarrant-last-show-on-capital-2004|archive-date=1 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''===
{{Main|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|l1=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)}}
Tarrant began hosting the television quiz show ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' in 1998. The format was sold to over 100 other countries. Tarrant coined the format's catchphrase, "But we don't want to give you that," and continued his older catchphrase, "Is that your final answer?", contributing it to the format. Tarrant presented the ITV game show ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' from 1998 to 2014, while also providing some audio recordings for some console games, and a tabletop game made by [[Tiger Electronics]] based on the show. He recorded a total of 592 episodes across 30 series, in which a total of five contestants won the cash prize of £1 million. 

One contestant, [[Charles Ingram]], won the £1 million cash prize (and was declared by Tarrant as "the most amazing contestant we have ever, ever had") but was denied his winnings when it was determined that [[R v Ingram, C., Ingram, D. and Whittock, T.|he had cheated]]. Tarrant attended the trial regarding the Ingram fraud case. When called to testify, he stated that he had not noticed anything amiss during the filming and had not heard any coughing. He said that following the win the Ingrams had been behaving "as normal as people who had just won £1m would be in that situation." Tarrant also said that he would not have signed the cheque if he had had suspicions of cheating and was "shocked" when he heard about the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2003 |title=Tarrant 'shocked' by Millionaire claims |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2842163.stm |url-status=live |accessdate=4 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627134751/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2842163.stm |archive-date=27 June 2004}}</ref> 

In subsequent interviews about the Ingram case, Tarrant has always insisted he was totally unaware of any coughing around him at the time of Ingram's run, but realised something wasn't right after viewing the tape afterwards. He has also said he was very sad about the whole situation, saying: "This was a very cynical plan, motivated by sheer greed. It is hugely insulting to the hundreds and hundreds of other contestants who have come on the show, just hoping for much smaller amounts of money but prepared to try and win their money honestly."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavender |first=Jane |date=14 April 2020 |title=Chris Tarrant on exact moment he knew Charles Ingram was cheating on Millionaire |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/chris-tarrant-exact-moment-knew-21848031 |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2000, Tarrant signed a contract with ITV to present the show until December 2002. This contract was later extended to 2013. On 22 October 2013, Tarrant announced that, after fifteen years of hosting the programme, he would be leaving ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', which consequently led ITV to axe the programme once his contract was finished; no more specials would be filmed after this announcement, leaving only those made before it to be aired as the final episodes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Wants To Be A Millionaire axed as host Chris Tarrant decided 'it was time to take a break' |newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]] |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/who-wants-millionaire-axed-host-2479545 |access-date=22 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Millionaire axed as Tarrant quits |url=http://www.u.tv/entertainment/Millionaire-axed-as-Tarrant-quits/73946d68-1f14-4ad2-9d20-912ca13e275c |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022152601/http://www.u.tv/entertainment/Millionaire-axed-as-Tarrant-quits/73946d68-1f14-4ad2-9d20-912ca13e275c |archive-date=22 October 2013 |access-date=22 October 2013 |website=[[UTV Media|u.tv]]}}</ref> After the final celebrity editions, Tarrant hosted a [[clip show]] entitled "Chris' Final Answer", which aired on 11 February 2014 and ended the original series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Ellen |date=12 February 2014 |title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Chris's Final Answer – TV review: 'Tarrant isn't quite on the money' |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-chriss-final-answer-tv-review-tarrant-isnt-quite-on-the-money-with-9122226.html |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, ITV commissioned a new series of ''Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'', to be presented by new host [[Jeremy Clarkson]]. In a television interview, Tarrant said he had chosen not to watch the revived series. He said he would have "politely turned down" an offer by the network to return to the show had he been approached.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

In 2020, a TV mini-series, ''[[Quiz (TV series)|Quiz]]'', about Ingram's attempt to win a million pounds on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' by cheating, was released. Tarrant was portrayed by the actor [[Michael Sheen]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 November 2019 |title=Michael Sheen transforms into Chris Tarrant for Millionaire TV drama |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50419997 |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>

===Other work===
Tarrant is known to have worked at Salford Royal Foundation Trust as a Hospital radio presenter.

Tarrant narrated the schools programme ''Stop, Look, Listen'', made by [[Associated Television|ATV]] and later [[ITV Central|Central Television]].

Tarrant hosted ''[[Everybody's Equal]]'' in 1989, although the programme came to an end in 1990 (the format was revived in 1997 by [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]] as ''Whittle'', with [[Tim Vine]] as host). In 1991 he hosted the second series of [[Cluedo (UK game show)|''Cluedo'']] which was part panel quiz and part murder drama, based on the board game of the same name. On 1 January 1993, after [[Thames Television]] lost its ITV franchise and been replaced by [[Carlton Television]], Tarrant hosted the first programme of the new contractor, ''A Carlton New Year''. Also in 1993, Tarrant hosted ''[[Lose A Million]]'', in which contestants started off with a (fictional) million pounds and were required to lose it by aiming to answer a set of questions incorrectly. Tarrant would later host ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'', in which the objective of the game is to do the opposite. From 1996 to 1999 Tarrant hosted the [[Man O Man (UK game show)|UK edition of ''Man O Man'']].

In 1994, Tarrant hosted a revival of ''[[Pop Quiz]]'', previously hosted by [[Mike Read]]. It ran one series and eight episodes in total, airing again on Saturday nights (as Read's version did).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Waring |first1=Olivia |title=The life of the most eccentric icon the 1980s produced.|url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/10/25/pete-burns-timeline-the-life-of-the-most-eccentric-icon-the-1980s-produced-6214058/ |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=Metro |date=25 October 2016}}</ref>

Tarrant was also the long-term host of ''[[...on Television|Tarrant on TV]]'', a programme which shows clips featuring a number of unusual television programmes from around the world. He presented the show from 1990 to 2006. In 1998, Tarrant released a compilation album entitled ''Ultimate Party Megamix'' on [[PolyGram Television]]'s record label. A second edition entitled ''Ultimate Summer Party'' was also released. Both albums contain songs compiled by Tarrant himself in the form of a megamix.

In 2003, Tarrant did voice over work on the film ''[[Johnny English]]'', where he starred as himself hosting a radio presentation of Sauvage's coronation. In 2008, he presented the game show ''[[It's Not What You Know]]'' on [[Challenge (TV channel)|Challenge]]. In January 2009, Tarrant began hosting a new [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] show, ''[[The Colour of Money (game show)|The Colour of Money]]'', which was cancelled after seven episodes after failing to perform well in the ratings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/102147-chris-tarrants-latest-show-axed/|title=Chris Tarrant's latest show axed|date=12 June 2009|access-date=12 August 2009|publisher=STV Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615083327/http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/102147-chris-tarrants-latest-show-axed/|archive-date=15 June 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

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)|Real Radio]] in Scotland and the North West's [[105.4 Century Radio|Century Radio]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/30/radio.guardianmediagroup?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title= Tarrant v Ross: let battle commence|work= The Guardian|first= Mark|last= Sweney|date= 30 June 2008|access-date= 9 August 2009|location= London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015144707/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/30/radio.guardianmediagroup?gusrc=rss&feed=media|archive-date= 15 October 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> The show would air in direct competition to [[Jonathan Ross]]'s show on [[BBC Radio 2]] and began on 26 July. It was aired for 12 months until July 2009.

In 2009, UKTV signed Tarrant to present a show for [[Watch (TV channel)|Watch]] called ''[[Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose]]''. The eight-part series, beginning on 4 October, gave three- to six-year-olds the chance to fulfil their greatest ambitions in the adult world, whether running a photographic studio, a radio station or an ice-cream van. The show was executively produced by Lisa Perrin and Tess Cumming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/01/chris-tarrant-kids-show-uktv-watch|title=Chris Tarrant to present kids' hidden-camera show for UKTV|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=1 July 2009|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103831/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/01/chris-tarrant-kids-show-uktv-watch|archive-date=2 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2010, Tarrant become one of the first three celebrities to be subjected to the British version of the American institution of a comedy roast, on Channel 4's ''[[A Comedy Roast]]''. In August 2010, Tarrant launched the ''Fishing with Chris Tarrant'' application for [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] devices in association with ''[[Angling Times]]'' magazine.<ref>[http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-Times/Section/News--Catches/General-News/August-2010/Chris-Tarrant-launches-iPhone-fishing-app/ Chris Tarrant launches iPhone fishing app] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031142210/http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-Times/Section/News--Catches/General-News/August-2010/Chris-Tarrant-launches-iPhone-fishing-app/ |date=31 October 2010 }}, 20 August 2010, ''Angling Times''</ref><ref>[http://www.fishingwithchristarrant.com/ Fishing with Chris Tarrant website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003100804/http://www.fishingwithchristarrant.com/ |date=3 October 2010 }}</ref> Also in 2010 he presented ITV1's ''The Door'', a game show in which celebrities faced unpleasant and scary challenges to win money for charity.

On 13 April 2012, Tarrant made an appearance in the BBC show ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie to You?]]'' on [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]]'s team alongside [[Mel Giedroyc]].

In 2012, Tarrant filmed the ''[[Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways]]'' series for [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], which has been compared with similar programmes presented by [[Michael Palin]] and [[Michael Portillo]] and features locations including the [[Congo-Ocean Railway]], [[the Ghan]] across Australia and the [[Konkan Railway]] in India. The series was aired in December 2012.<ref>[http://www.channel5.com/shows/chris-tarrant-extreme-railways Chris Tarrant – Extreme Railways] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121224337/http://www.channel5.com/shows/chris-tarrant-extreme-railways |date=21 January 2013 }}, 6 December 2012, ''[[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]''</ref> A second series was shown in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/rail-journeys/Chris-Tarrant-on-board-the-worlds-extreme-railways/|title=Chris Tarrant: on board the world's extreme railways|date=26 February 2016|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901003711/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/rail-journeys/Chris-Tarrant-on-board-the-worlds-extreme-railways/|archive-date=1 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Channel 5 aired a new series called ''Chris Tarrant Goes Fishing''. A year later Tarrant began appearing in the ITV daytime game show ''[[Show Me the Telly]]'' as the TV legends team captain.

Since 2014, Tarrant has been a brand ambassador and has appeared in commercials for [[Lottoland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chris Tarrant |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850634/otherworks |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

In 2017, Tarrant became a continuity announcer for the TV channel [[Challenge (TV channel)|Challenge]].

On 25 April 2022, Tarrant released his book ''It's Not A Proper Job: Stories from 50 Years in TV.''<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/chris-tarrant-career-terry-wogan-b2414163.html |title=Chris Tarrant recalls conversation with Terry Wogan as he celebrates 50-year career |date=2023-09-19 |language=en |access-date=2024-06-26 |via=www.independent.co.uk}}</ref>

In December 2024, Tarrant announced his retirement after 50 years in television, after the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]] led him to reconsider how he wanted to spend his time as well as claiming he no longer "needs the money".<ref>{{Cite web |last=reporter |first=LeicestershireLive |last2=Rainbird |first2=Ashleigh |date=2024-12-06 |title=Chris Tarrant quits 'silly' TV career after 50 years |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/chris-tarrant-quits-silly-tv-9772364#:~:text=Chris%20Tarrant,%20the%20former%20host,wanted%20to%20spend%20his%20time. |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Leicestershire Live |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Chris Tarrant.jpg|thumb|Wax statue of Tarrant at [[Madame Tussauds]]]]
Tarrant had two children from his marriage to Sheila Roberton. The couple married in [[Southend-on-Sea]] in 1976<ref>
{{Cite web |url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl |title=FreeBMD - Search |access-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221090324/https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl |archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=live }}
</ref> and divorced in 1982. Tarrant met his second wife, [[Ingrid Tarrant|Ingrid Dupre-Walsh]], when they both worked for [[TV-am]]. The couple married in 1991 and divorced in 2007.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6338245.stm | work=BBC News | date=7 February 2007 | access-date=2 January 2010 | title=Tarrants are granted fast divorce | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323054228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6338245.stm | archive-date=23 March 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> After a series of tabloid stories, on 18 September 2006 the couple announced that they were separating.<ref name="bbc-separation">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5357654.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tarrant confirms marriage is over|date=19 September 2006|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321065753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5357654.stm|archive-date=21 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple previously lived with their two children, including [[Toby Tarrant|Toby]], in [[Esher]], plus two children from Ingrid's previous marriage. In a statement in September 2006, Tarrant said: "I am deeply sorry for the hurt I have caused to my loyal wife and wonderful children, all of whom I adore. I have only myself to blame for the breakdown of my marriage."<ref name="bbc-separation" /> Since 2008, Tarrant has been in a long-term relationship with legal assistant Jane Bird.

In June 2000, Tarrant's [[River Thames]] launch boat the ''Ben Gunn'' was vandalised and burnt at its mooring in [[East Molesey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/801337.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tarrant fury after boat fire|date=22 June 2000|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030410033552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/801337.stm|archive-date=10 April 2003|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Tarrant's father died in 2005 and his mother died in 2012. Whilst Tarrant was preparing for his mother's funeral, he discovered his father's war diary in an open desk. Tarrant stated, "For the first time, I had his own record of his wartime experiences."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chris Tarrant: 'Dad was my closest friend' {{!}} Family {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/24/chris-tarrant-dad-was-my-closest-friend-who-wants-to-be-millionaire |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref>

On 12 March 2014, it was reported that Tarrant had suffered a [[Transient ischemic attack|mini stroke]] whilst on board a return flight from [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok]] to [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] on 1 March 2014, returning from overseas shooting for ''[[Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26543552 |title=Chris Tarrant recovering in hospital after 'mini-stroke' |work=BBC News |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003191931/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26543552 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon landing, he was rushed to [[Charing Cross Hospital]] where doctors undertook emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his right leg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hope |first=Hannah |date=2016-10-27 |title=Chris Tarrant: Since I had a stroke I've been taking a lot more holidays |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/chris-tarrant-stroke-ive-been-9141944 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}</ref>

Tarrant is a fan of rock group [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]], and in 1991 followed them on their [[Rock 'til You Drop]] tour, which covered four concerts in one day (Sheffield, Glasgow, Birmingham and London) in aid of Nordorff-Robbins. In 2013, he attended the premiere of the band's feature film [[Bula Quo!]] in London.

He is also a supporter of [[Reading F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13037278|title=Chris Tarrant likes being one of the fans at Reading FC|date=11 April 2011|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=7 March 2014|publisher=[[BBC]]|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925222256/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13037278|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Charity work===
[[File:Chris Tarrant honours Ukrainian refugee in the People's Portrait series.png|thumb|Tarrant promoting the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]]'s 'People's Portraits' series of [[Ukrainian refugees#United Kingdom|Ukrainian refugees]] at the [[Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool]]]]
Tarrant's charity work, for which he received an OBE in 2004,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3829923.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tarrant 'proud' to receive honour|date=22 June 2004|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625201337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3829923.stm|archive-date=25 June 2004|url-status=live}}</ref> includes: being an ambassador for the homeless charity, [[Centrepoint (charity)|Centrepoint]]; [[trustee]]/[[Patronage|patron]] of [[West Heath School (special school)|West Heath School]] for disadvantaged children; patron of Milly's Fund, set up in memory of murdered [[Surrey]] teenager [[Murder of Milly Dowler|Amanda Dowler]]; patron of Swings & Smiles, a charity for children with special needs.

He was a patron of the Headway Thames Valley, until he left in 2006, blaming "work commitments".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/game-show-host-quits-charity-of-mistress-1-1141796|title=Game show host quits charity of mistress|website=scotsman.com|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111210042/https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/game-show-host-quits-charity-of-mistress-1-1141796|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tarrant is a patron of the [[Fred Potts|Trooper Potts VC Memorial Trust]], Reading.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/trooper-potts-readings-only-victoria-10196288 |title=Trooper Potts: Reading's only Victoria Cross winner commemorated with statue outside Forbury Gardens |work=Get Reading |first=Nathan |last=Hyde |date=5 October 2015 |access-date=26 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025921/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/trooper-potts-readings-only-victoria-10196288 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> As well as [https://www.berkshirevision.org.uk Berkshire Vision], a charity that supports the visually impaired in the Berkshire County.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kreatif|title=Patrons Berkshire Vision Berkshire Vision|url=https://berkshirevision.org.uk/people/president-and-patrons/|access-date=10 August 2020|website=berkshirevision.org.uk/|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2024, Tarrant promoted the National Lottery's 'People's Portraits' series of [[Ukrainian refugees#United Kingdom|Ukrainian refugees]] at the [[Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool]].

===Legal issues===
On 13 May 2007, Tarrant was arrested on suspicion of assault at an Indian restaurant and was released on police bail. The incident took place at the MemSaab Restaurant on Maid Marian Way, [[Nottingham]], where Tarrant, who had been joking with a couple dining at an adjacent table, threw an item of cutlery towards the man.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/crime/article/0,,2079364,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Tarrant held over alleged assault | location=London | first=Peter | last=Walker | date=14 May 2007 | access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=48929&in_page_id=7|work=Metro|title=Chris Tarrant arrested for 'assault'|access-date=2 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100134/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=48929&in_page_id=7|archive-date=29 September 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> Tarrant admitted to the [[BBC]] that he did jokingly "lob" some cutlery onto the couple's table after asking them to leave him alone to discuss work with his colleagues. He said: "I've no idea what his [the accuser's] motives were&nbsp;– it genuinely makes no sense. I got back from the station at 1&nbsp;am and to this minute I am completely bemused by what happened."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654111.stm|work=BBC News|title=TV's Tarrant 'bemused' by arrest|date=14 May 2007|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914142303/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6654111.stm|archive-date=14 September 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 May 2007, Tarrant was formally [[Police caution|cautioned]] by [[Nottinghamshire Police|Nottinghamshire Constabulary]] with regard to the incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6693101.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tarrant cautioned over curry row|date=25 May 2007|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321123843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6693101.stm|archive-date=21 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 5 March 2009, Tarrant was arrested on suspicion of assault at his home in [[Esher]]. He was later released without charge.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/7945785.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tarrant arrested in assault claim|date=16 March 2009|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322215228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/7945785.stm|archive-date=22 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 18 December 2017, Tarrant appeared in court charged with [[Driving under the influence|drink-driving]]. He returned to court on 18 January 2018 and received a £6,000 fine and a 12-month driving ban.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/18/chris-tarrant-fined-and-banned-for-drink-driving|title=Chris Tarrant fined and banned for drink-driving|newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 January 2018|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111212703/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/18/chris-tarrant-fined-and-banned-for-drink-driving|archive-date=11 January 2020|url-status=live |last1=Gayle |first1=Damien }}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Channel
!Notes
|-
|1972–1981
|''[[ATV Today]]''
| rowspan="6" |Presenter
|[[Associated Television|ATV]]
|Regular presenter
|-
|1974–1981
|''[[Tiswas]]''
|[[Associated Television|ATV]], [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|272 episodes
|-
|1982
|''[[O.T.T. (television series)|O.T.T.]]''
|[[ITV Central]], [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|12 episodes
|-
|1983
|''[[Saturday Stayback]]''
|[[ITV Central]], [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|6 episodes
|-
|1988
|''Prove It!''
|[[Television South|TVS]], [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|10 episodes
|-
|1989
|''The Euro Disney Christmas Special''
|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2" |1989–1991
|''[[That's Showbusiness]]''
|Panelist
|[[BBC1]]
|4 episodes
|-
|''[[Everybody's Equal]]''
| rowspan="12" |Host
| rowspan="4" |[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|3 series
|-
|1990–2006
|''[[Tarrant on TV]]''
|15 series
|-
|1991
|''[[Cluedo (UK game show)|Cluedo]]''
|6 episodes
|-
|1993
|''[[Lose A Million]]''
|1 series
|-
|1994
|''[[Pop Quiz]]''
|[[BBC One|BBC1]]
|7 episodes
|-
|1996–1999
|''[[Man O Man (UK game show)|Man O Man]]''
| rowspan="3" |[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|12 episodes
|-
|1998–2014
|''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''
|30 series
|-
|2007
|''[[The Great Pretender (game show)|The Great Pretender]]''
|30 episodes
|-
|2008
|''[[It's Not What You Know]]''
|[[Challenge (TV channel)|Challenge]]
|30 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
|''[[The Colour of Money (game show)|The Colour of Money]]''
|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|7 episodes
|-
|''[[Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose]]''
|[[Watch (TV channel)|Watch]]
|1 series
|-
|2010
|''[[The Door (TV series)|The Door]]''
|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|2 episodes
|-
|2011
|''[[The Magicians (British TV series)|The Magicians]]''
|Contestant
|[[BBC One]]
|1 episode
|-
|2012–2020
|''[[Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways]]''
|Presenter
|[[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]
|6 series
|-
|2013
|''[[Show Me the Telly]]''
|Team captain
|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
|20 episodes
|-
|2017
|''The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant''
|Presenter
| rowspan="4" |[[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]
|3 episodes
|-
|2018
|''Intercity 125: The Train That Changed Britain''
| rowspan="2" |Narrator
|2 episodes
|-
|2019
|''World's Busiest Train Stations''
|4 episodes
|-
|2021
|''Britain Biggest 1970s Hits''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://viacomstudiosuk.com/greatest-hits-of-the-1970s/|title=Viacom International Studios UK|access-date=16 December 2021|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024164727/https://viacomstudiosuk.com/greatest-hits-of-the-1970s/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|Talking head 'expert'
|various episodes
|}

===Television advertisements===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
|1982
|[[Liquorice allsorts|Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts]]
|Himself
|-
|1983
|[[Rice Krispies|Kellogg's Rice Krispies]]
|Himself
|-
|1990
|[[Kentucky Fried Chicken]]
|Himself
|-
|1991–2001
|[[Capital London]]
|Himself
|-
|1992
|[[Pontins|Pontin's]]
|Himself, voice only
|-
|1994
|[[Daily Express]]
|Himself
|-
|1997
|[[101 Dalmatians (1996 film)|101 Dalmatians]]
|Himself, voice only
|-
|1998–2001
|[[ITV Digital|ONdigital]] 
|Himself
|-
|2000
|[[McDonald's]]
|Himself
|-
|2005
|[[Tesco]]
|Himself, voice only
|-
|2012
|[[Morrisons]]
|Himself, voice only
|-
|2014–2016
|[[Lottoland]]
|Himself
|}

== Discography ==
*Album ''Tiswas presents The Four Bucketeers''
*Single "The Bucket of Water Song/Smello"
*Single "Water is Wonderful/Raspberry Rock"
*Album ''Saturday Scene''
*Album ''Ultimate Party Megamix''
*Album ''Ultimate Summer Party''

==Awards and honours==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
! colspan="2" |Award
!Work
!Result
!Notes
|-
|1981
|[[British Academy Television Awards]]
|'Harlequin' (Drama/Light Entertainment)
|''[[Tiswas]]''
|{{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2000
|[[Broadcasting Press Guild Awards]]
|Best Performer (Non-Acting)
|[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'']]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[National Television Awards]]
|Most Popular Entertainment Presenter
|''[[Tarrant on TV]]''
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|Special Recognition Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|2001
|[[RTS Television Award]]
|Best Presenter
|''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|2006
|[[British Comedy Awards]]
|Lifetime Achievement
|{{N/A}}
|{{Won}}
|
|}[[File:Broad Street Chris Tarrant.JPG|thumb|Tarrant's star on Broad Street, awarded to him in 2010|alt=]]

Tarrant was ranked number 38 in [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s [[TV's 50 Greatest Stars]] poll of 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5142726.stm|title=ITV to salute '50 greatest stars'|date=3 July 2006|publisher=[[BBC News]]|access-date=12 March 2025}}</ref>

In August 2010, Tarrant was awarded a place on [[Birmingham Walk of Stars|Birmingham's Walk of Stars]], and made an honorary citizen of [[Birmingham]]. On receiving the award, he said, "I love it here. I'm an honorary Brummie. I owe everything that has happened in my career to my start in Birmingham with ATV and ''Tiswas''. I'm very proud to have my own bit of pavement on Broad Street in Brum."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-10896958|title=Tarrant honoured by adopted city|date=6 August 2010|access-date=26 January 2019|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127100348/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-10896958|archive-date=27 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}


== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0850634|name=Chris Tarrant}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/353258.stm TV Tarrant in the spotlight], [[BBC News Online]], 31 May 1999
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1377587.stm Tarrant 'most watched' on TV], [[BBC News Online]], 8 June 2001
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051023092011/http://radio.about.com/library/blprofiles/blpro-christarrant.htm About.com's Profile of Chris Tarrant]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412161613/http://www.tiswasonline.com/ Tiswas Online]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080529154412/http://www.aston.ac.uk/downloads/marketing/aspects/archives/2006/August_2006.pdf Chris Tarrant soaks ITV's Keith Wilkinson (reporter) ]

{{National Television Award for Special Recognition}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarrant, Chris}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Capital (radio network) presenters]]
[[Category:Charity fundraisers (people)]]
[[Category:English game show hosts]]
[[Category:English children's television presenters]]
[[Category:English radio DJs]]
[[Category:English radio presenters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Reading, Berkshire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at King's School, Worcester]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Berkshire]]