Breakfast with Frost

Did You Know?

• The first opening titles were used from 3 January 1993 to 25 August 1996.
• The second version of the titles was used from 1 September 1996 to 30 August 2003.
• The final version of the titles was used from 6 September 2003 to 29 May 2005.

History

David Frost was among the original 'Famous Five' presenters and shareholders of TV-am, the first company to hold the ITV breakfast franchise. He initially promised 'sexual chemistry' when co-hosting the daily magazine show Good Morning Britain alongside Anna Ford. However, the programme's serious approach led to low ratings against the BBC's lighter Breakfast Time, triggering a major overhaul of TV-am's programming, management, and on-air talent. After being removed from the weekday morning slot, Frost began hosting the Sunday edition of Good Morning Britain on 28 August. This was meant to last just eight weeks, with the expectation that Michael Parkinson would resume his full duties in October. By November, Parkinson had returned, but he was only given the Saturday slot because Frost had boosted Sunday viewership. In summer 1985, the programme became The Sunday Programme, then David Frost on Sunday from 13 September 1986, and finally Frost on Sunday in 1988. Since Frost only worked six months each year, stand-in hosts included Jonathan Dimbleby, Lorraine Kelly, Anne Diamond, and Maya Even. Some episodes also aired on BSB. The show continued until TV-am's franchise ended in 1992, after losing the 1991 ITV renewal to GMTV; the final episode aired on 27 December 1992. The BBC immediately picked up the format, launching Breakfast with Frost the following week on 3 January 1993. It ran for over twelve years, ending on 29 May 2005. The first guest on the BBC version was Prime Minister John Major. In its early years, a replay aired on Sky News later on Sunday mornings. The final edition featured guests including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, comedian Rory Bremner, and BBC director-general Mark Thompson, with Carol Vorderman, Gyles Brandreth, and Nigella Lawson reviewing the papers.