Chris Tarrant has shared why he can't wait to visit Liverpool next week.
The broadcasting legend is coming to the city for An Audience with Chris Tarrant as part of Smithdown Litfest. The event is being held at Ullet Road Unitarian Church on Saturday September 23 – and will see Chris tell stories from his autobiography, It's Not A Proper Job, which chronicles his incredible 50 year career in showbiz.
The 76-year-old released his autobiography last year and he told the ECHO why he couldn't turn down the chance to be a part of the literary festival in Liverpool. He said: "I thought I'm not going to do loads of stuff [to promote the book] this year but I was asked do you fancy a festival in Liverpool? And I said I think I do actually."
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He added: "I've just been an admirer of things that have came out of Liverpool over the years. It's a great city, it's good fun up there."
Chris will take questions from the crowd at the end of the special event and he said he is looking forward to interacting with a Liverpool audience. He added: "Scousers are funny aren't they? They just make you laugh and there's a nice smile about the whole place."
The city holds a special place in Chris' heart as his son, Toby, is a huge Liverpool FC fan. He said: "He's there all the time, he's always in the Kop, he's part of the furniture there. He's on the radio in London and Klopp rang him on his birthday and wished him a happy birthday. He was like 'it's the best present I ever could have had."
Chris is a Reading FC fan and attended his first game at Anfield in 2019 during the Reds' title winning season when Jurgen Klopp's side defeated Manchester City 3 – 1. The broadcaster said he was in awe of the famous atmosphere as he said: "I just stood there going 'Oh my God'. If you were a visiting team and came out to this lot, you'd say I think I'll be going back in to the dressing room. I've been to most Premier League football grounds and I don't think there's anything quite like it."
Chris is renowned for his role fronting Who Wants to be A Millionaire and he will use all the experience from presenting the iconic show to host The Smithdown Litfest Great Big Quiz Day at Ullet Road Unitarian Church earlier on Saturday afternoon. He told the ECHO: "They stitched me up like a kipper because they said you're up here anyway to talk about your book.
"You wouldn't mind doing a quiz would you? I thought 'oh for God's sake I've done so many quizzes in my life.' And I thought yeah, go on. I'll just ask the questions basically."
One of the most dramatic moments in Chris' career was the Charles Ingram scandal, when the army major received help from his friend "coughing" in the audience to cheat his way to the million pound jackpot. Chris is still regularly asked about the shocking moment and revealed he only became suspicious when he heard the family arguing after the show.
He said: "They'd come in, been given a big bottle of Champagne and they'd have a massive row. Why would you have a row with your missus when you've just won a million quid?" He added: "If he'd have stopped at £125,000 and just gone away with that, I wonder would we have chased him to the court? I think the row was her saying to him. You bloody fool, you've blown it, you've gone too far."
Chris joked he will keep his eyes peeled at The Smithdown Litfest Great Big Quiz Day and may need to prepare the judge's inquest if he spots an argument amongst the winning team as he laughed: "Well I will if they start coughing."
Chris rocketed to fame as host of the iconic TV show Tiswas and he has gone on to interview some of the biggest stars of all time such as David Bowie, Elton John and Paul McCartney. However, he credits his passion for ordinary people as the reason why he has enjoyed such longevity and success in broadcasting.
He said: "I really like people. A lot of people in TV don't like people. But I really just get on with ordinary men and women. I think that helped. Some little old lady would come on [Who Wants to be A Millionaire] and say 'I really want to win £4,000' and I really wanted them to win it."
He added: "I like the buzz of ordinary people. That's why I enjoy doing the festivals and doing the q&a with people. People ask the funniest things. Anything I get asked won't be anything I haven't heard before but it might."
You can find out more details on how to buy tickets for An Audience with Chris Tarrant here
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