Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Chris Tarrant admits he was 'drunk' for first decade of his TV career with 10am binges

Chris Tarrant has revealed that he spent the first decade of his telly career boozed-up.

The TV legend, 75, who presented legendary kids' show Tis, confessed that he would kickstart his usual working day with an array of 'livener' pints which he would down from as early as 10.30am.

The much-loved TV star made the honest admission in his new memoir, It's Not A Proper Job.

Throughout the pages, Chris lifted the lid on landing his breakthrough presenting role on Birmingham-based show ATV Today - and how his drinking effected his role.

Chris explained that on his first day on the job, he was 'shown the ropes' by heading to the nearby pub for a booze-up.

Chris Tarrant has revealed that he spent the first decade of his telly career boozed-up (Daily Mirror)

The TV star admitted that his boss was plying him with alcohol at 10.30 in the morning - and after his first day on the job, it became the norm.

He penned: "On the day I began, I met a lovely guy called John Swallow. His idea of showing me the ropes was to go to The Crown pub.

"It was just after half 10 and my new boss was pouring pints down my neck.

Chris was infamously slapped with a 12-month drink-driving ban in 2018 (PA)
The TV legend said he 'learned his lesson' after being slapped with the driving ban (ITV)

"This became the normal pattern for most of the next 10 years. We would take what we always referred to as the 'livener', then start our day.

"We would almost certainly have a couple more at lunchtime and then there was the Green Room - open during transmission."

Chris' admission comes after the TV legend was infamously slapped with a 12-month drink-driving ban in 2018.

Chris has opened up about his previous drinking habits (Get Reading)

Following his driving ban, Chris told The Mirror that he 'learned his lesson'.

In a 2019 interview, he insisted: "I was silly and I have learned my lesson.

"It’s the small things I miss. I can’t just pop down the shops, and we are right in the sticks."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.