The Big Breakfast was a popular Channel 4 morning show, known for its energetic presenters and unconventional format. It launched in 1992 and became a firm favourite with viewers. Originally hosted by Gaby Roslin and Chris Evans, the show opened doors for several presenters who went on to TV stardom. In 2021 and 2022, it returned with hosts Mo Gilligan and AJ Odudu. Here's what happened to the presenters after they left the iconic show.
Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin
Gaby Roslin and Chris Evans were the original hosts when The Big Breakfast first launched. After leaving in 1994, Chris quickly became one of Channel 4's biggest stars, fronting programmes including TFI Friday and Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. He later moved into radio, taking over the Radio 1 Breakfast Show before joining Virgin Radio in 1997.
His career returned to television in 2015 when he was announced as the new host of Top Gear. However, his time on the motoring show was short-lived, with Chris stepping down in 2017. Two years later, he returned to Virgin Radio, almost two decades after first leaving the station, to take over its Breakfast Show once again.
Gaby stayed with The Big Breakfast until 1996, continuing alongside Mark Little after Chris's departure. She became well known for her work with Terry Wogan on Children in Need, and the pair hosted The Terry and Gaby Show in 2003. Gaby now hosts her own podcast, where she chats to high-profile guests including Dame Judi Dench. She's also about to front a new ITV series on Sunday mornings called The Joy of Pets alongside Dr Bolu Eso.
Zoe Ball and Later Hosts
Zoe Ball took over from Gaby when she left, presenting alongside Mark Little for around a year before moving to the BBC, where she joined Live & Kicking with Jamie Theakston. In 2005, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in third place. In January 2019, she became the host of BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show. Away from presenting, she has appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside her son Woody.
Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen became co-hosts, presenting together between 1997 and 1998 and again from 2000 to 2001. Johnny went on to work with the BBC, fronting his own late-night talk show, and wrote and starred in the sitcom 'Orrible. He has established himself as a popular DJ on Radio X. Denise developed a successful career across television and theatre, taking on roles in the West End and on Broadway. Her television credits include EastEnders and Neighbours, as well as reality shows including The Masked Singer and Dancing On Ice. She has also served as narrator for The Only Way Is Essex and appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside her partner Eddie.
Johnny and Denise briefly reunited professionally in 2008 on Capital FM's Breakfast Show. Their relationship subsequently became strained, with the pair reportedly falling out over contracts. However, they have since made it clear they have moved past their differences and are on good terms, and have starred together on Celebrity Gogglebox.
Donna Air, Dani Behr and Richard Bacon
Donna Air was already known as an actress and pop star before joining The Big Breakfast in 2000. She rose to fame playing Charlie in Byker Grove and found success as one half of the pop duo Crush. Her time on the programme was brief, with the presenter leaving after just two months. She returned to acting, appearing in productions including The Mummy Returns, Hollyoaks and Hotel Babylon, and competed on Dancing On Ice and Splash!. Her relationship with James Middleton, the brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales, ended in 2018.
Dani Behr was a reporter on The Big Breakfast during the early 1990s. She worked as both a presenter and actress before taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2014. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 2000s, she became a real estate agent, drawing on an interest in property from her childhood. Dani has said her property ventures have ultimately been financially more successful than her television career, and she has also established her own television production company.
Richard Bacon was already a recognisable television personality from Blue Peter before becoming one of the familiar faces of The Big Breakfast. He remained associated with the programme until it came off air and subsequently built a varied career, including appearances on Good Morning Britain and a part in The Thick Of It. In 2018, he experienced a serious health scare, developing a severe illness after becoming unwell during a flight from the US to the UK. His condition became so serious that he was placed into a medically induced coma at Lewisham Hospital.
In messages on his Twitter profile - now X - at the time, he wrote: “So I did six days straight in a coma, and been here another four since. It’s an as-yet unidentified double chest infection. I nearly died. At one point, as I was run down a hallway to ICU at midnight, with a massive needle jammed in my chest a bit like Pulp Fiction, I thought ‘this is it’.” Richard subsequently made a full recovery and has continued working in television and broadcasting.
