Wimbledon Garden Party (TV Show)
Wimbledon Garden Party was a series of live TV shows on BBC Choice that ran during Wimbledon tennis in 1999 and 2000.
The 2000 series of 13 nightly shows were broadcast live from the backgarden of Annabel Croft's then home in Wimbledon. The premise was very simple. Celebrities were given a pair of tickets to Centre Court and then came onto the show to talk AbOUT their experience and be part of the entertainment show.
Mark Pougatch and Craig Doyle were the presenters and they were joined by Annabel and Tony Hawks who would provide a very alternative form of analysis to that on BBC2. Tony also fronted his own live band in the garden, several acts joined them and there was a live audience.
The show was described as TGI Friday meets Today at Wimbledon and included short films, the Garden of Seeds, stunts, games and interaction with the public queues for the tournament.
The pop group Mis-Teeq made their television debut on WGP, singing as part of a live pass-the-parcel competition with the queue,
Show One - Monday 26th June Guests - Leslie Philips, Matt Dawson, Clare Balding, Shauna Lowry, Arthur Pendragon
Show Two - Thursday 27th June Guests - Wayne Hemmingway, Donna Symmonds, Mike Read, Jilly Johnson
Show Three - Wednesday 28th June Guests - Jamie Theakston, Steve Wilson, Craig Doyle.
Show Four - Thursday 29th June Guests - Dean Gaffney, David Hempleman-Adams, Matt Dawson
Show Five - Friday 30th June Guests - Ian Hislop, Mark Little, Phil Cornwell, Helen Young.
Show Six - Saturday 1st July Guests - Kevin Day, Clare Balding, Polly Graham, Christopher Price, Mis-Teeq
Show Seven - Monday 3rd July Guests - Jo Whiley, Angus Deayton, Anneka Rice
Show Eight - Tuesday 4th July Guests - Angela Griffin, Lisa Faulkner, Nicola Stevenson, Hattie Hayridge, Dean Macey
Wednesday 5th July Guests - Alan Davies, Sean Lock, Bill Bailey, Tony Hadley, Gladys Knight
Thursday 6th July Guests - Les Dennis, Doon Mackichan, Darcey Bussell
Friday 7th July Guests - John Francome, Toby Anstis, Fred Stolle, Simon Williams
Saturday 8th July Guests - Stephen Tompkinson, Fay Ripley, Mark Bright
Sunday 9th July Guests - Louise Lombard, James Purefoy