My shows were disappointing, admits Tonkinson

Paul Tonkinson admits his Big Breakfast shows were 'disappointing'.

The comic's admission came in a letter to The Guardian yesterday, complaining about its coverage of the impending cancellation of the Channel 4 show.

"It is not true I hosted 'several dozen programmes' that were 'widely regarded as a disappointment'," he wrote."I actually hosted 54 programmes that were disappointing."

Tonkinson was fired from the show in April, despite being avoiding the critical savaging of co-hosts such as Donna Air - who was later also axed.

Channel 4 bosses have now invited programme-makers to suggest ideas to replace the early-morning show at the end of the year, after viewing figures plummeted below 500,000.

At its lowest point, repeats of Blue Peter pulled in three times its audience.

Published: 24 Jun 2001