It's Not A Proper Job - Stories from 50 Years in TV

by Chris Tarrant

In It's Not a Proper Job, TV legend Chris Tarrant regales the reader with hilarious and heart-warming stories from his stellar 50-year career in television and radio. With trademark wit and self-mockery, Chris not only recalls his behind-the-scenes capers with fellow celebrities, but also shows us how, as a man of the people, he has relished rubbing shoulders with ordinary folk on his way to becoming one of the nation's favourite TV faces. A former teacher and ATV newsreader, Chris soon established himself at the forefront of trailblazing telly as the host of Tiswas, and here recounts this 1970s, anarchic, flan-flinging children's show that spearheaded a fresh format and a new era for Saturday morning TV, packed with pranks, full of fun, and which remains a benchmark to this day. For later audiences, Chris will be more familiar as the face of yet another groundbreaking show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which he presented for sixteen gripping years, and which grew into a global phenomenon exported to over one hundred countries. Here Chris remembers the joyous highs of contestants' life-changing winnings, the frustrating lows of loss, the cringing embarrassment of ignorance, and the infamous cheating of the 'Coughing Major'. Spanning five decades, Chris's television credits are the envy of aspirational TV stars, but reading his laugh-out-loud anecdotes - akin to having a chat with the man himself over a pint, or listening to one of his entertaining, after-dinner speeches - reveals a man still amused by life, by the people he meets, and by his own humble assertion that none of his glittering career can, in any way, be called 'a proper job'

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2022

Reviews

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an autobiography, as stated by Chris Tarrant in the introduction. It is a look back at his life in the public eye, which started for me on TISWAS, punk before punk was a thing. Anarchic, silly, great fun. An antidote to the staid BBC Saturday morning show. More well known for his stint on the millionaire show as, not being a Londoner, I have never heard Capital Radio (apart from the Clash song of the same name).

Full of anecdotes, mostly funny but, the chapter that stood out for me was Arek which the lunatic holocaust deniers will hate.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better celeb autobiographies.

Chris doesn't take himself too seriously and enjoys telling stories. Nicely written in his own chatty style and some actual laugh out moments as well as some 'Blimey, he actually did that!' moments.

A fun read and highly recommended of someone who has worked hard at his not a proper Job!

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rambling, namedroppping, full of anecdotes from far-flung places, lots of drink, TISWAS and Millionaire, plus a bit of radio. National treasure who has entertained millions for the past 50 years.

[Ann Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun - some great stories

[Carol Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the second half of this book.