Final Vaughaning

In September 1994 Chris Evans left The Big Breakfast. Instantly the hungry jaws of TV Critics started drooling - 'That's it!' They said. 'No one will replace him, the show might as well be axed'. The show marched on through a succession of hosts, the critics savaging each one. There was one thing however they were not aware of.

On December 7th 1993 one man had done a screen test with Gaby Roslin. The test was slightly awkward, the pace wasn't quite right but there was something about that man the producers liked. That man was Johnny Vaughan and on 17th June 1997 he presented his first ever Big Breakfast as a guest filling in for Rick Adams. He was a success and from 1st September 1997 he became the permanent host of the Brekkie instantly winning over the critics and making Breakfast bright again.

Now, three & a half years later he has left and this is his tear jerking final show....It started as it meant to go on. An extravaganza celebrating all that was best about Johnny Vaughan's era. At 7am on 12th Jan 2001 a marching band kicked off as a parade of Bulldogs, Beauties, Page 3 stunners, Women in Tabards, Men in women's coats, Pushy mothers and even Wombles strolled past the house causing the 500 guest viewers in the garden to cheer with insanity. Christopher Biggins narrated the parade before handing over to the titles as a fleet of spitfires dropped rose petals onto the garden (no, really)! The crew were in a rowdy mood with T-Shirts displaying 'Vaughan Free' while Cockney Vic displayed 'I Heart JV' across her chest (perhaps Big Break's John Virgo)? Donna tried to speak but was shot down by a crowd of 500 screaming 'Not Now Donna!' The guests ranged from B-List Celebs such as Lionel Blaire and Phillipa Forrester to old friends like Trevor Bayliss. Drusilla made an appearance on the show advising Johnny how to be polite on his last day.

Richie Bacon made a very special Outside Broadcast. Earlier in the week the air between Richie and the rest of the crew was slightly sour relating to comments that had been made on The Chris Moyles Radio Show, this had been forgotten. Sadly the show would no longer need Johnny's famous shed but rather than destroy it it was awarded to a fan who emailed the official website. Yes that morning Steve Watson of Essex became the new owner of the shed now autographed by Tom Hanks. (The fact he already had 3 sheds meant he was a man of Johnny's heart who is a big fan of the garden hut.)

The show then proceeded onto the last ever Vital Statistics.From 8am onwards an air of sadness started to take over. Perhaps thanks to a VT tribute to Liza Tarbuck - the fan's favourite co-host of the JV era. Johnny mentioned how the new production team, ready for the launch on The new Big Breakfast on 22nd Jan, had already taken over the house - like the Russians invading. This left the old crew with just the living room to host the show from and the realisation that Ed, the glorious leader was on his final days.

Johnny raced through the Paper Review containing, quite fittingly, an article on how Russians don't consider beer an alcoholic beverage. At 8.15 the last ever pun-down took place with The Star (which had always been the paper with pun power) winning the title with the headline 'Coxless' on an award winning rower who'd had a sex change. At this point Jo, 20 from Leicester, awarded Johnny with a mock Daily Star front page commemorating his final day. Jo has featured in the paper review quite often over the last 3 years as Johnny's favourite Page 3 girl.

The crew then retreated to the garden to award one of the 500 strong crowd with a holiday to Fiji to see where Castaway was filmed. Blue ticket 52 was the winner who gave an excellent bulldog. At 8.30 - as a tribute to the golden days of Johnny and Denise - the 'Time for the Last half hour' march was reinstated one final time with all 500 guests taking part. We then witnessed the Last Ever Gaggin' For It. Perhaps by coincidence or design this was also the game played on Denise's last show in Jan '99. This also featured the last ever blooper on the show as Den knocked over the gong and contestants board at the end of the segment.

At 8.45 the wind down and the crying began. Johnny & Denise read out a list of thank yous to all the crew and participants in the show over the last 3 & a half years. It was a moving tribute to the people who actually make the show happen and even Johnny's late driver Keith 'Good Luck with the shooooowww' Wood got a mention. The VT of all of Johnny's highlights were then rolled bringing back memories of the best of Vaughan and what we're going to miss in the morning. The famous snot clip, JV's first show, JV's Frank Butcher impression and many more were played in 10 moving minutes. We returned to the living room as Johnny shouted 'Don't Look at the screen'

All that was left was the final Friday song, at this stage the crowd couldn't hold back covering Johnny & Den in streamers as Johnny said his last 'Live' words "Thankyou Very Much." The credits rolled ending with an aston proclaiming "Farewell You Beauties." This wasn't the end as a moving prerecorded clip rolled. Filmed in a blurred dreamy style we see the living room that has been home to all the fun over last 3 years but now its empty. All the fittings gone with some of the furniture remaining covered in white drapes. Johnny and Denise enter, sit on their chairs and take one last look around as the shows catchphrases echo in the background. They both stand up as the lights dim. "Denise." Johnny whispers, "Yes Johnny?" she asks. "Time to go.." he replies as they both put their clipboards on the chairs, turn and walk through the patio windows which magically open. As they stroll into the sunset Johnny gives a final thumbs up, the screen fades away and thousands of BB fans across the nation reach for their tissues...