Johnny Vaughan has discussed what he believed made Big Breakfast such a success in the 90s, and the ‘non toxic team’ behind the scenes – amid the This Morning scandal.
The presenter, 56, who fronted the show alongside Denise Van Outen, 49, was speaking after the pair reunited this week for their first TV appearance in 20 years on Steph’s Packed Lunch.
They were previously embroiled in a 23-year pay dispute until finally making up during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussing the show’s success, which aired with the pair at the helm from 1998 to 2001, Johnny said: ‘You can’t just have two people doing it, as we’ve seen from other male-female double acts doing daytime TV who seem to get along well, you also need a non-toxic team as well’.Â
Speaking to The Sun he clarified that he ‘wasn’t having a dig at anyone’ before saying that it was everyone who was working on the Big Breakfast, in front and behind the camera, ‘who made it [what it was]’.
Iconic: Johnny Vaughan has discussed what he believed made Big Breakfast such a success in the 90s, and the ‘non toxic team’ behind the scenes – amid the This Morning scandal (pictured together on the show in 1998)
Back together! The presenter, 56, who fronted the show alongside Denise Van Outen, 49, was speaking after the pair reunited this week for their first TV appearance in 20 years (pictured)
He then discussed his ‘ups and downs’ with pal Denise saying: ‘You can only fall out with someone you really like, you don’t fall out with people you don’t like. And that’s the way of friendship’.
‘There’s been a couple of ups and downs. But that’s because it’s a real, genuine friendship.’Â
The Big Breakfast, which aired between 1992 to 2002, was watched by two million viewers in its heyday and attracted some of the biggest names in showbiz as guests.
Johnny and Denise were arguably the show’s most popular presenting duo, alongside original hosts Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin who were at the helm between 1992-1994.
It comes after former This Morning star Dr Ranj slammed the ‘toxic’ culture at the ITV daytime show in the wake of the ongoing scandal into Phillip Schofield’s ‘unwise’ affair with a younger male colleague.
The TV doctor, who left the show last year, claimed he was ‘managed out’ after taking his concerns to ‘the top’ of ITV, raising even more questions for bosses about whether they knew and when.
Dr Ranj – who is now the resident doctor on the BBC’s Morning Live – said he thought ‘long and hard’ before weighing in on the scandal currently engulfing ITV but decided to speak out ‘in light of recent events’.
Pals: Discussing the show’s success, which aired with the pair at the helm from 1998 to 2001, Johnny said: ‘You can’t just have two people doing it, as we’ve seen from other male-female double acts doing daytime TV who seem to get along well, you also need a non-toxic team as well’
Shock: Former This Morning star Dr Ranj slammed the ‘toxic’ culture at the ITV daytime show in the wake of the ongoing scandal
Admission: Phillip, 61, resigned from ITV and was dropped by his agency YMU after admitting to an ‘unwise, but not illegal’ affair with a younger male colleagueÂ
But the channel have denied his bombshell accusations amid calls intensify for a independent probe into an ITV investigation by top brass in 2020 into Phillip Schofield’s affair with his secret lover.
Meanwhile Denise recently now poked fun at the contract dispute with Johnny as they reunited for a funny First Dates skit before presenting the lunchtime show together.
The camera man first asked Denise: ‘It’s been a while since the first date, how was it?’
A giggling Denise responded: ‘It was really nice, it’s lovely to see him again, he talked a lot.’
Reunited: It comes Denise has now poked fun at the contract dispute as they reunited for a funny First Dates skit before presenting the lunchtime show together
She jokingly said: ‘The only thing is he talked a lot abut how he used to make more money than me, but that’s fine.’
When Johnny was asked the same question, he responded: ‘She talks a lot about fashion and music and things that I’m not so interested in but I think it went really well.’
Denise was then asked: ‘Anything you’d like to change about him?’
She jokingly replied: ‘The only thing is he talked a lot abut how he used to make more money than me, but that’s fine.’
The guy behind the camera then asked: ‘The breakfast date seemed to go really well, will you see each other again?’
On the count of three the pair both shouted: ‘Yes!’
