19th October 2020
Christ, don't update the site for three years then along come two MASSIVE news items in two months.
Basically:
Big Breakfast House. For Sale
Yes our beloved home is currently available for viewing. Sold for around £800,000 in 2003 following the end of the original run of The Big Breakfast, and an arson attack, the sale price of nearly £6million represents a remarkable return on the buyer's investment.
Obviously they lucked out when the UK Government decided that their new neighbour would be the 2012 Olympic Stadium - no doubt regenerating a considerably rundown area of London.
Rightmove's photos show the results of the incredible make-over Lock Keepers Cottage received once the show went off-air.
How this effects the likliehood of the House's use for the forthcoming reboot of the show remains up for speculation.
25th August 2020
Smoke us a kipper, we're back for Breakfast
Channel 4 has announced that it is rebooting its iconic morning show The Big Breakfast after an 18-year hiatus, with BAFTA-winning British comedian Mo Gilligan hosting a one-off special.
Gilligan, who won a BAFTA for Channel 4’s The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan, said: “Like so many of us, I loved The Big Breakfast and I am so grateful to be asked to host this special event, particularly as part of such a hugely thrilling and history-making day for British television!”
The revival will form part of a Black Takeover Day in 2021, during which the British broadcaster will mark a year since the international protests and debates sparked by the killing of George Floyd on May 25.
ITV Studios will produce The Big Breakfast revival after the show was originally made by Charlie Parsons’ production company Planet 24. Channel 4 promised to recapture the show’s anarchic spirit and said it will be reimagined through an “unashamedly Black British lens.”
We'll have more news as we get it!
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05/03/17 "Got anything else we can destroy Trev?"
We're deeply saddened to hear of the death of Trevor Baylis.
He was responsible for some magical moments on the show in the 'From Me Shed Son' segment with Johnny Vaughan, including this absolute classic;
David Bunting, the chief executive of Trevor Baylis Brands, said he died of natural causes on Monday morning, having been ill for a long time.
RIP.
11/12/17 "Where Are You Keith!?"
We are heartbroken to learn of the death of Keith Chegwin.
His family announced today that he lost his battle with a long illness.
Keith had a TV career spanning five decades including Swap Shop, Extras, Cheggers Plays Pop and, of course, his role 'down your doorstep' on The Big Breakfast.
The larger-than-life character, described by his family as "a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend", leaves his wife Maria and two children.
Keith Chegwin. A Big Breakfast legend and, more importantly, a genuinely lovely guy.
May he rest in peace.
28/09/2017 25 Years since The Big Breakfast was born.
While there was little in the name of celebration there were a number of minor nods to the greatest breakfast show's silver anniversary. Firstly 'TheBigBreakfast' briefly trended on Twitter.
Official litterer of the London Underground, The Metro published a look at The Big Breakfasts greatest moments. Complete with some very dodgy photoshop and awful BB logo. Some often peddled clips are included but there is a great link to Zig & Zag interviewing the US's felt-haired-Muppet in chief Donald Trump.
Basildon's finest reflected on the other news of the day - the passing of rabbit fancier Hugh Hefner. Denise Van Outen revealed that she was offered to pose in Playboy at the peak of her Big Breakfast run.
However there's nothing like a classic edition of the show its self, so here it is, the one that started it all 25 years ago today. Happy birthday to The Big Breakfast.
02/09/2017 21 Years since the White Album
21 years ago today @sharrond62 @djrickadams and the Art-Deco House made their BB debut!
14/07/2017 Book at BreakfastIt's slim pickings if you want to build a library dedicated to your love of the greatest breakfast TV show ever made. A number of the presenters have published autobiographies, most notably Chris Evans on his career and time at the House.
There were, however, only two books about the show its self. The Big Breakfast Bowl, Geoff Tibballs fantastic look at the first year of the show or Vital Statistics the 1998 compendium celebrating Vaughan's love of fact.
This could be about to change. We're looking for your memories of the show both from a fan perspective or if you were involved in its production.
It's still an embryonic idea but the seed has been sewn to create a book celebrating The Big Breakfast. If you have stories, memories or insight please email us and get involved!
27/06/2017 Carpet Monster In Court.
The Big Breakfast's Paul Sadler, known as 'Carpet Monster' in the Johnny Vaughan era of the show, has gone on trial accused of possessing thousands of indecent images of children.
As this is a current court case, and considering the nature of its subject matter we don't feel a lighthearted fansite is the best outlet for any deeper coverage or comment.
You can find an article on the case here.
18/12/2015 Dem Boyz Dem Boyz
Last night though it was turned up to 11. We were promised Alan Partridge as a guest host and he didn't disappoint but then Chris Evans unveiled two surprise guests. None other than the Planet Zog's finest yes Zig & Zag were reunited with the ginger one and all was good again.
We could stop there, but Evans didn't. As TFI came to an end there was one more guest, billed as the 'Ice Queen' it turned out to be none other than mummy breakfast herself - Gaby Roslin. For a few short minutes Channel 4 was gloriously breakfasty again.
Image from Getty Images
16/06/2015 TFI Gear
Yes the BBC have formally announced that the daddy of breakfast is to host the next series of Top Gear following Jeremy Clarkson's fracas and resulting sacking. It's not confirmed who he'll host the show with but it is confirmed that co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond are not going to be a part of the new series.
Could Evans be reunited with any fellow Big Breakfast alumni? Doubtful, although we could easily see Richard Bacon's ironic humour flitting in the BBC are probably going to want known petrol heads by Evans side. James Martin? Suzi Perry? We'll wait and see.
Source: BBC News
14/04/2015 Everything but THE BIG BREAKFAST IS BACK
Exciting news reaches us here at Bow Locks. Yes Channel 4 has confirmed that Chris Evans is to resurrect his 90s classic... TFI Friday. So close.. Breakfast fans, so close.
Chris tweeted at 18.30 today (April 14th) that TFI Friday will return on the 12th June for a 90 minute special.
But he's not the only former Big Breakfast star to be getting a prime slot on the air waves. The show's lovable alien duo Zig & Zag are about to do a Thunderbirds and get a spangly new show.According to Broadcast, CBBC and Irish broadcaster RTÉ have commissioned 26 11-minute episodes of what they are calling a "bright, vivid and funky" sitcom.
Written by creators Ciarán Morrison and Mick O'Hara, Zig & Zag will follow the pair's life in the suburbs after a crash landing on earth.
Morrison and O'Hara will also voice the characters, with former Coronation Street star Debra Stephenson also part of the voice cast.
08/04/2015 Den dishes the dirtIn a chat with UK newspaper The Telegaph Denise Van Outen has shed light on her claims that her Big Breakfast co-star Johnny Vaughan made life difficult during their time together on the Capital Breakfast radio show.
"I'm a girl's girl but I've got quite a male sense of humour so I get on with guys," she told the Daily Telegraph.
"I can hold my own in a group of guys and especially guys like Johnny that like a bit of banter, because I can send myself up. He was a really good mate."
Explaining their fallout, she said: "I was nervous about doing radio on my own because I was made to feel I wasn't capable of doing it on my own by Johnny. I think he knocked my confidence a bit."
28/09/2014 Happy anniversary!
Vanessa Feltz has revealed how convicted sex offender Rolf Harris assaulted her during a live interview. Feltz said the disgraced TV entertainer groped her during an 'On The Bed' interview sequence on The Big Breakfast in May 1996.
The current BBC Radio 2 presenter told the Sunday Express she wanted to waive her right to anonymity to "encourage others to come forward to speak about Rolf Harris and others".
Her comments come after Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail for carrying out a series of attacks on children as young as eight.
"It must be humour. There is this quote from her that I used to fade her down. She must be taking the piss, because anyone who has ever known me in radio knows that I can't operate any of the machines," Vaughan told Digital Spy.
"I couldn't even fade myself up, let alone fade her down. I don't think I've ever touched a fader. I don't know how to operate all these things."
He added: "I think it's best to ignore it. She apparently said that Andrew Lloyd Webber and I sabotaged her career. She's taking the piss, of course she is. I owe her pretty much everything and I can't possibly make a comment. I'd done one chatshow and one movie show before The Big Breakfast with Denise. It did everything for me, that show. So I think she's taking the piss."
Written by creators Ciarán Morrison and Mick O'Hara, Zig & Zag will follow the pair's life in the suburbs after a crash landing on earth.
Morrison and O'Hara will also voice the characters, with former Coronation Street star Debra Stephenson also part of the voice cast.
08/04/2015 Den dishes the dirtIn a chat with UK newspaper The Telegaph Denise Van Outen has shed light on her claims that her Big Breakfast co-star Johnny Vaughan made life difficult during their time together on the Capital Breakfast radio show.
"I'm a girl's girl but I've got quite a male sense of humour so I get on with guys," she told the Daily Telegraph.
"I can hold my own in a group of guys and especially guys like Johnny that like a bit of banter, because I can send myself up. He was a really good mate."
Explaining their fallout, she said: "I was nervous about doing radio on my own because I was made to feel I wasn't capable of doing it on my own by Johnny. I think he knocked my confidence a bit."
The full interview is at the Daily Telegraph's website.
28/09/2014 Happy anniversary!
It's exactly 22 years since Chris & Gaby first welcomed us to the house! Here's the first half hour:
06/07/2014 Feltz Assaulted
Vanessa Feltz has revealed how convicted sex offender Rolf Harris assaulted her during a live interview. Feltz said the disgraced TV entertainer groped her during an 'On The Bed' interview sequence on The Big Breakfast in May 1996.The current BBC Radio 2 presenter told the Sunday Express she wanted to waive her right to anonymity to "encourage others to come forward to speak about Rolf Harris and others".
Her comments come after Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail for carrying out a series of attacks on children as young as eight.
Full Article from The Sunday Telegraph
28/03/2014 Whataday's Titles.
We're loving this take on the classic Big Breakfast opening titles. 'Whataday' a user over on TV Forum has played around with a concept of the 1992 theme and visuals re imagined for a 2014 edition of the show. Crisp, clean and striking. It's a vision of how The BB could look today.
May 23rd 2013 - Princess Denise of Walford
Speculation today in The Guardian that Denise Van Outen is in talks to become the new landlady of the Queen Vic in the BBC TV series Eastenders. A BBC insider described Van Outen as "a new, young and fresh Peggy Mitchell".
Ironically Barbara Windsor originally won the role as Peggy Mitchell on the soap after a stint as The Big Breakfast's outside broadcast presenter, and a Johnny Vaughan campaign to 'get Babs behind the bar'.
Read the full story here
March 28th 2013 - The Slanging Match Continues
More from Digital Spy today reguarding the Vaughan/Van Outen feud. Johnny recently claimed that Denise's comments about him fading her down whilst on air were all a joke and that he hasn't a clue how to work the broadcast equipment. Denise has offered her opinion
"I don't know any DJ that wouldn't know where the fader is."
Denise starts her own radio on March 30th every Saturday on Magic from 1pm to 3pm.
March 19th 2013 - Darth Fader
Digital Spy has today published an interview with Johnny Vaughan in which he plays down some of Denise Van Outen's negative comments towards him.
"I couldn't even fade myself up, let alone fade her down. I don't think I've ever touched a fader. I don't know how to operate all these things."
He added: "I think it's best to ignore it. She apparently said that Andrew Lloyd Webber and I sabotaged her career. She's taking the piss, of course she is. I owe her pretty much everything and I can't possibly make a comment. I'd done one chatshow and one movie show before The Big Breakfast with Denise. It did everything for me, that show. So I think she's taking the piss."
Here at Bow Locks we hope this current feud is some sort of joke. The Vaughan/Van Outen years were Big Breakfast gold and it's heart breaking to think they don't actually get along.
The 32-year-old model will join the Parisian troupe's London run of Forever Crazy for a week from 1 November to perform a segment called Leçon d'érotisme (warning: not suitable for work), which involves writhing on a red sofa in the shape of two lips. Brook will also play the role of Miss Bisou during the show, after training with former Crazy Horse performer Iota Theoreme, who now manages the production.
It won't be her first experience of on stage nudity. She made her stage début as a pole dancer in Eye Contact at the Riverside Studios in 2000, and has since appeared in Fat Pig and Calendar Girls in the West End.
January 5th 2013 - Call The House A Home
Always wanted to LIVE in Lock Keeper's Cottage? Got a spare £2000 per month? Amazingly the Big Breakfast house is available to rent... though it has lost some of its character. Property website Zoopla describes the house thus:
"The property comprises of a large open plan lounge and kitchen with solid wood flooring, a shower room, the 1st floor has a huge open plan bedroom with a bathroom in the centre, a spiral staircase leads up to another large bedroom/ workspace."
Sadly there's no mention of the house's previous fame and it doesn't confirm if you have to houseshare with any of Planet Zog's residents.
20th October 2012 Brook's Birthday Suit
It's a far cry from the Big Breakfast, but Kelly Brook is to try her hand at burlesque and strip on-stage as a guest performer with the Crazy Horse cabaret.The 32-year-old model will join the Parisian troupe's London run of Forever Crazy for a week from 1 November to perform a segment called Leçon d'érotisme (warning: not suitable for work), which involves writhing on a red sofa in the shape of two lips. Brook will also play the role of Miss Bisou during the show, after training with former Crazy Horse performer Iota Theoreme, who now manages the production.
It won't be her first experience of on stage nudity. She made her stage début as a pole dancer in Eye Contact at the Riverside Studios in 2000, and has since appeared in Fat Pig and Calendar Girls in the West End.
10th September 2012
Strictly Princess Denise Of Basildon
Ex Big Breakfast presenter Denise Van Outen will sparkle in sequins as she joins this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
Denise is best known for presenting The Big Breakfast with Johnny Vaughan from 1996 - 1999 as well as her time on stage as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Now the 38-year-old is putting her best foot forward to perform in the hit BBC show which its self was formatted by the late Big Breakfast producer Richard Hopkins.
Denise tweeted: "I'm very excited to be taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing. Sore feet already! "I’m going to try and sneak in a bit of running man. Think the judges will like it."
Even though her dance partner has not been confirmed yet, Denise admitted her ideal partner would be Daddy Warbucks, from Annie.
5th September 2012 Bow Locks on Twitter
Remember how The Big Breakfast pretty much ignored modern technology? It was late on the website bandwagon and never even bothered embracing sms texting.
Well, here at Bow Locks we follow suit. Yes, three years later than the rest of the world we're taking a peek at Twitter. Not sure quite what we'll use the feed for yet but add @E32NN to your follows!
19th August 2012 It's official. The Big Breakfast is back on Channel 4.