Allan Van Darc

Allan Van Darc or Van d'Arc is a television host, comedian and producer. He is also known for his singing/songwriting endeavours on UK and French TV.

Main Television shows

After starting as a voice over artist and TV producer in London, Van Darc was recruited by leading entrepreneur Vincent Bolloré and subsequently moved to Paris to join his national French TV station Direct 8 at its launch on 31 March 2005.

2005 - 2007 : Les z'Octopuces Daily live kids comedy programme - as Sionz the only boy character. This off-the-wall show ran for over two years, producing nearly 400 episodes.

2006 : Tout Peut Arriver Weekly live prime time cabaret comedy programme - as Petha Houchnok, a strong-tempered cleaner whose dream is to become a TV superstar.

2007 : Facile Les Vacances Daily summer holiday show - as Pat Panik, a man who is a walking holiday disaster.

2007-2008 : Récréadultes ! Weekly eighties revival programme with live performances and parodies.

2008-2009 : La Semaine People All-year round celebrity news roundup featuring interviews and debates.

2008 : 2008 : L'Année People End-of year celebrity top 25.

2009 : Hollywood People Daily collection of celebrity portraits, presented from Hollywood and Los Angeles.

2009 : Les Dossiers People Celebrity programme co-presented with Miss France 2009 Chloé Mortaud. A daily version of the show was also aired throughout September 2009.

'2009 : 2009 : L'Année People Celebrity end of year retrospective with guests - co-presented with Emilie, French Big Brother (Secret Story 2009) winner.

'2010 : 24H People Daily 26 minute live celebrity news roundup.

Other TV Credits

  • 1995 - "Une Pêche d'Enfer" France 3 - first TV appearance.
  • 2001 - "Anthony Quinn : The final words" co-producer, with veteran BBC Broadcaster Paul Hollingdale. Upclose and personal portrait of Hollywood Legend Anthony Quinn, filmed in Rhode Island, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and Barcelona with participation from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Bates. The show was premiered on ABC Australia in July 2001, just after Quinn's death.
  • 2009 - "Morandini!" On 7 July 2009, whilst commenting live images from Michael Jackson's funeral on television, Van Darc and TV host Jean-Marc Morandini were at the center of a controversy relayed by many well-established sites and newspapers as to whether or not Van Darc and his colleague were really in LA or in a Paris studio.

Music

As one half of electro pop act The Eye Allan released in the summer of 2008 a dance track called Secret Mind (Airplay / Universal) which was featured several times on reality television program Secret Story (TF1).

He has written a number of songs and directed two music videos for his sister, pop singer and journalist Ludmila Milova, who won a national French TV talent-search show in 2002. Acoustic versions of their work were re-recorded in 2009 and appear as the soundtrack for an as-yet-untitled upcoming TV series to be aired in 2010. In the series, shot in late 2009, Van Darc gets to perform one of his own songs, Emma, in Italian.

Novelty Records

Ode To The Bottom

Whilst living in London, he wrote and recorded a comedy song in reference to Australian popstar Kylie Minogue under the name Van d'Arc. This novelty record earned him a tremendous amount of publicity in the UK, Australia and Germany. On 14 August 2003 'Ode To The Bottom' was relayed by the major tabloids (The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Telegraph), most radio breakfast shows and news bulletins around the country. As a result "Ode To The Bottom" broke the simultaneous exposure record for an original song by an unknown artist. The story was relayed on national RTL German news bulletin, and Van d'Arc went on to perform the song on television shows. He also made an overnight music video for the song dubbed "the cheapest video in pop history" which allegedly cost less than 3 pounds to produce. He was represented by notorious publicist Max Clifford and music mogul Simon Cowell even called the song "novelty record of the year". 'Ode To The Bottom" is often cited as "one of the first global viral MP3 smash", and generated over 80 international press articles throughout the world. Van d'Arc gave all the proceeds from the sales to the Australian charity Kids Helpline.

La Danse Du Poisson Qui Nage A Reculons

Theme tune from TV kids show Les z'Octopuces, recorded as Sionz, the story of a fish that swims backwards. His song and matching choregraphy were also performed on television by numerous French celebrities including Yannick Noah, Loana, Chantal Goya and Carlos. In 2007, Allan even got to perform the song live at "Le Reservoir", a prestigious live Parisian venue renowned for its credible rock acts, gathering mixed reactions.

Acting

2010 : (as yet untitled)as Allan - TV series taking place onboard a cruiseship - cast includes model Valérie Bègue, comedian Cyril Hanouna and famous publicist Jacques Séguéla.

References

fr:Allan Van Darc