How I got in The Cage!!!!
Tiswas Reunited hit our screens on 16 June 2007 for a one off special with the gorgeous Chris Tarrant, Sally James and the gang.
ITV were looking for 10 brave people to be a part of the show and be in The Cage to be gunged and soaked for 2 hours. You had to apply and say why you should go in The Cage so I though I'd fill in an application form not thinking I'd get picked. Anyway I received an email from ITV saying that I HAD been chosen to go in the Cage. The show was recorded in London on 23 April.
Anybody who knows me knows how much I love Chris Tarrant so they can understand what getting in The Cage really meant to me. Lets just say I've now crossed off another dream in this game of life!!
On the day of the recording I had to get to The London Studios for 5pm. I was told to wear some old jeans and trainers and a top (not white for obvious reasons) that I didn't mind getting messed up. After all I was going to be standing in a cage and getting soaked for over 2 hours so dressing up wasn't really required!!
At the studios I met the other 13 idiots, I mean people whos applications to get in the Cage were successful and we were showed up to our dressing room which had written on the door 'Tiswas Clean-Up Area'!!
We sat around for a couple of hours getting to know each other. Lenny Henry and Frank Carson popped in to say hello to us which was really nice. They're such funny guys and it was lovely to meet them.
At around 7pm we were told that the studio audience were all in place and we were going to be taken down to the studio to take our place in The Cage. I was really nervous but extrememly excited too. I mean it's not every day Chris Tarrant throws buckets of water all over you now is it????
We had to wait briefly at the side of the set and the excellent warm-up man Ray Turner was doing a great job of getting the crowd into a Tiswas kinda mood. The atmosphere was electric. We then made our way into The Cage and the door was locked on us for what was to be over 2 hours of mess and mayhem!
Then the show began. Chris Tarrant made a remarkable entrance. He appeared in a suit but he soon ripped it off to reveal jeans and a Tiswas t-shirt underneath. I still have dreams about that particular part of the show!! Anyway moving on.................
Within about 3 minutes of the show starting Chris came running over to The Cage and launched 3 buckets of water at us. It was such a thrill but it was absolutely bloody freezing and from that moment onwards we shivered our way through the rest of the show! Chris released a trough above our heads full of water and gunk and we were dripping wet. This trough was to be filled up on 2 more occasions. One of these occasions Chris let it go on us even though it wasn't in the script!!!!
We had other Tiswas presenters and guests throw buckets of water over us but we soon learnt that Chris takes no prisoners when he's got a bucket of water in his hands. The power at which he throws them almost knocks you off your feet!!! It got to the stage that when we saw Chris leap out of his chair to come and throw water at us we all groaned and collectively mumbled 'Oh S**t' or something very similar!!!! Chris saw the looks on our faces and at one point after a good soaking he said to us 'Well it's your fault for writing in'!!! I guess he had a point!!!
The Cage gang with Lenny Henry
Chris Tarrant doing his worst!!!
The Legend that is CT! Swoon!!!!
The Caged (in first name alphabetical order)!!!
Christine McCrea Gareth Trenchard-Morgan Hannah Fitzpatrick Helen Hardman Jason Wainwright Jenny Smith Jenny John Jonathan Davis Kevin Stafferton Matthew Smith Monique McLellan Natalie Cro Rachel Doyle Toby Riding
Screen Grabs of me taken from the recording
Chris Tarrant did this to me!!!....................................Faint!!
Status Quo on Tiswas Reunited. Play Loud!
