Photograph © Rachel Doyle

 

My name is Rachel, Rach to friends and I was born in Manchester way back in 1972 making me the grand old age of 34!!! I have been living in St Albans for 8 years.

I've admired Chris Tarrant for a number of years now and as he's such a talent I decided to put this fan site together.

I work full time as a Support Worker to adults with autism and learning difficulties.

Im a huge Paul McCartney fan and have seen him in concert all over the place in the UK, Europe and the States. I saw Paul most recently on 3 November 2006 at the World Premiere of his classical work 'Ecce Cor Meum' at the Royal Albert Hall. He was sat 2 rows behind me!!!!!!!! My neck was aching from turning round all the time!! And then I saw him again (through teary eyes!) on 22 November 2006 at a cd signing at Virgin Megastore. Swoon!!!

I enjoy concerts, going to the theatre, making a nuisance of myself on the internet, listening to Macca. I support Manchester City FC.

I visit Manchester and my other fave city Liverpool as often as possible.

My ultimate dream would be to go out on a large fishing boat with Chris Tarrant and Paul McCartney. I would help Chris reel in his catch as Paul sings his whole back catalogue of ballads to me!!!!!!!!!!! Sigh!!!

 

Photographs © Rachel Doyle

I was in The Cage!!!!

Anybody who knows me knows how much I love Chris Tarrant so they can understand what getting in The Cage really meant to me. Lets just say I've now crossed off another dream in this game of life!!

On the day of the recording I had to get to The London Studios for 5pm. I was told to wear some old jeans and trainers and a top (not white for obvious reasons) that I didn't mind getting messed up. After all I was going to be standing in a cage and getting soaked for over 2 hours so dressing up wasn't really required!!

At the studios I met the other 13 idiots, I mean people whos applications to get in the Cage were successful and we were showed up to our dressing room which had written on the door 'Tiswas Clean-Up Area'!!

We sat around for a couple of hours getting to know each other. Lenny Henry and Frank Carson popped in to say hello to us which was really nice. They're such funny guys and it was lovely to meet them.

At around 7pm we were told that the studio audience were all in place and we were going to be taken down to the studio to take our place in The Cage. I was really nervous but extrememly excited too. I mean it's not every day Chris Tarrant throws buckets of water all over you now is it????

We had to wait briefly at the side of the set and the excellent warm-up man Ray Turner was doing a great job of getting the crowd into a Tiswas kinda mood. The atmosphere was electric. We then made our way into The Cage and the door was locked on us for what was to be over 2 hours of mess and mayhem!

Then the show began. Chris Tarrant made a remarkable entrance. He appeared in a suit but he soon ripped it off to reveal jeans and a Tiswas t-shirt underneath. I still have dreams about that particular part of the show!! Anyway moving on.................

Within about 3 minutes of the show starting Chris came running over to The Cage and launched 3 buckets of water at us. It was such a thrill but it was absolutely bloody freezing and from that moment onwards we shivered our way through the rest of the show! Chris released a trough above our heads full of water and gunk and we were dripping wet. This trough was to be filled up on 2 more occasions. One of these occasions Chris let it go on us even though it wasn't in the script!!!!

We had other Tiswas presenters and guests throw buckets of water over us but we soon learnt that Chris takes no prisoners when he's got a bucket of water in his hands. The power at which he throws them almost knocks you off your feet!!! It got to the stage that when we saw Chris leap out of his chair to come and throw water at us we all groaned and collectively mumbled 'Oh S**t' or something very similar!!!! Chris saw the looks on our faces and at one point after a good soaking he said to us 'Well it's your fault for writing in'!!! I guess he had a point!!!

I won't go into too much detail about guests and stuff as I don't want to ruin the surprises before it hits our tv screens. But it was an amazing experience and the stangest way I've ever met 13 other people before. I'd like to thank everyone involved for making this dream come true and making it as special as it was. And I'd like to thank Chris Tarrant............................................ just for being Chris Tarrant really!!!!!!

 

I'm the one in the green top!!!

CT soaking us!!! What a dream!!!