Tiswas set to return

Anarchic kids' show Tiswas is returning to television screens with original host Chris Tarrant and members of the classic 1970s line-up, including Midlander Sally James.

ITV is to show a 90-minute special which will also feature Dudley comic Lenny Henry and funnyman Bob Carolgees with his famous sidekick Spit the Dog.

Tiswas was originally produced as a Midlands-only programme by ATV and was first shown in January 1974.

But within a couple of years it had been taken up by the other ITV regional companies due to its popularity.

Status Quo, Madness and Sir Paul McCartney will be making guest appearances on the forthcoming show and there will be new chaotic sketches and classic footage from the archives, including the classic 'gunging' of Sir Trevor MacDonald.

It could also feature the scene where Kidderminster rocker Robert Plant was made to stand in a pot and had water periodically thrown at him.

Little did she know ITV would decide to make the special in response to the BBC's plan to bring back Swap Shop.

The mother-of-three said Tiswas was not all custard pies, baked beans and semolina gungings.

She said: "We had very good interviews and top pop stars coming on - people like Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford who we got dressed as flowers and made them take a lot of abuse."

She remains good friends with Tarrant, whose son went to the same school as her own.

Tarrant, now aged 60, is co-producing the programme and is currently sorting through his private clip collection for footage.

By Daniel Pountney

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