Fond memories of Tiswas
Thousands of people across the country are set to be glued to their screens when Tiswas returns with a 90-minute special featuring original host Chris Tarrant and members of the classic 1970s line-up. Thousands of people across the country are set to be glued to their screens when Tiswas returns with a 90-minute special featuring original host Chris Tarrant and members of the classic 1970s line-up. Among the fans desperate to get a glimpse of the one-off special on ITV are Wolverhampton Community Radio presenters Matthew Lewis and Lee Bannister, who help to run a special website dedicated to the madcap kid's show. Matthew, of Penkridge, has his own special Tiswas tale to tell after winning the nation's hearts as a singing bunny on the show. The 30-year-old retained firefighter is set to take a trip down memory lane when the show is aired as he remembers donning a hand-made rabbit outfit to sing Bright Eyes to the crowds when he was just five. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Among the fans desperate to get a glimpse of the one-off special on ITV are Wolverhampton Community Radio presenters Matthew Lewis and Lee Bannister, who help to run a special website dedicated to the madcap kid's show.
Matthew, of Penkridge, has his own special Tiswas tale to tell after winning the nation's hearts as a singing bunny on the show. The 30-year-old retained firefighter is set to take a trip down memory lane when the show is aired as he remembers donning a hand-made rabbit outfit to sing Bright Eyes to the crowds when he was just five.
The song was even released as a single and reached number 121 in the charts.
More than 100 people every day now visit www.tiswasonline.com after it was launched last year.
Lee Bannister said: "We have had interviews with a number of the presenters, including Sally James. We are hoping to get an interview with Chris Tarrant soon."
Phantom
Meanwhile, Paul Hill, of Pelsall, would never dream of flinging cake at a world famous musician now he is 34 years' old but as a schoolboy it was a dream come true.
Mr Hill, of Church Road, was once the Tiswas Phantom Flan Flinger.
He said: "It is my claim to fame. I fit the costume perfectly so that's probably why I got chosen. Tiswas was definitely my favourite show as a child so when I got tickets, which were like gold dust at the time, I was very excited.
"The Pretenders were the special guests on the day and they were very good sports. It was all good fun."
Now, as a father, he is relishing introducing the new version of the show to his three-year-old son Brandon.
John Asher presented the show alongside Tarrant in 1974 and 1975. "It was just a really exciting show," he said. "It definitely set the precedent for Saturday morning TV."
The 55-year-old, from Buckinghamshire, added: "Tiswas broke the mould. It was such great fun to present and everyone really enjoyed themselves."
Other readers who called included:
l Pat Phillips said: "My son Nicholas appeared on Tiswas in 1976. He still has his three-record collection of the Wombles signed by the presenters."
l Grahame Darlington, aged 39, from Rugeley, said: "I appeared on Tiswas as a child in an episode that featured Russ Abbott, Status Quo and Jackie Chan. I managed to get one pie smack in Chris Tarrant's face."
l Wendy Stokes, aged 43, from Kingswinford, said: "Me and my sister were in the audience for an episode in 1973. We can both do this trick of turning our ears inside out and they filmed us doing it."
l Rob Bradley, aged 48, from Bushbury, said: "I was in the audience back in the 70s when I was 12. I loved it but I know my dad did too, and he was in his 50s."
l Amanda Parker said: "I appeared on the show when I was about 12. I was pulled out by my ears from a tin tub. My mate was so jealous that she wouldn't talk to me."
