TFI Friday returns for one-off special

By Robert Dex

Chris Evans is bringing TFI Friday back to Channel 4 for a live special to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The show was a huge hit though it regularly courted controversy - notably when guest Shaun Ryder swore and was subsequently banned from ever appearing on the channel again.

Approached

Plans for the special programme are being kept under wraps, but Evans said last year that TV bosses had approached him about doing the show.

He said: "Channel 4 have asked us to do a TFI Friday 20th anniversary show and/or run next year.

"I was completely bang up for it until I did the maths last week and had to phone them and say it's only 19 years next year, it's actually 20 years the year after.

"I think they still want to go for it and just hope no-one notices," he said.

Speaking on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Chris said: "If it were to come back live on Channel 4 on June 12 at 9pm, 90 minutes up from an hour.

"If that were to happen, for example ...''

Evans has since returned to radio and his breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 is the most popular in the United Kingdom, pulling in almost 10 million listeners.

hnews@herald.ie