Liza (or Li-Li as Johnny calls her) is 34, daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and used to have a job on the fruit & veg stall in Harrods.

Liza has had 11 years experience in TV presenting and before the Brekkie could be seen hosting "She's Gotta Have It" Channel 4's fashion show.

Liza has known Johnny for over a decade thanks to her brother sharing a flat with him. Liza has regularly guest presented The Big Breakfast over the last two years. One of her first appearances on TV was in ITV's hit sitcom Watching.
It was announced that she got the job of new host of The BB on 5^th August 1999 and speaking from her home in Finsbury Park, North London Liza said "I am delighted by the news. It's wonderful to be chosen. I have been out shopping to celebrate."

Liza likes Star Trek but dislikes having her photo taken.  Um, does she realise her image is being beamed to 3million homes a week?

Liz The Brekkie in 2000 to persue anacting career in the BBC series Linda Greene.

Blimey, what's all this......... I'll answer your questions like me trusty mate, What do you want to know? HIGNFY went well enough by the way!!

Lovin' you, Aunty Leez

Hello Liza,
Maybe others can put this particular question better than I, but basically what I want to know is:
Were you 'passed over' (that's an ugly phrase) in favour of Kelly last year or was it a case of being shortlisted or being offered the hotseat, but you had other commitments?
ttfn~
cusak

Not exactly, but I was signed to other things

Liza
Was there ever any chance that you would have extended your contract, or were you always pretty sure you would only do a year? - Dougal
I was offered a 16 month contract but I wouldn't accept it and I signed for a year – I was always just standing in, however I was very excited when they asked me and I “love the show”, there’s nothing like it.

Have you finalised what you are going to do when you've bid Bow Locks bye bye? - Dougal
Yes, I’ve got several bits & pieces to do; I have to do a few pilots for new things, every one looking for the “new” gardening or cookery fad.

Who would you do on celebrity Stars in their Eyes? - Dougal
They ask me every series, and I don’t want to do it, too scary, I’ve got a very ecclectic musical bake and no particular heroes. I’m listening to the Stereophonics at the moment, I love soul and was heavily into hip hop 10 years ago (blimey!). I spend a fortune adding to my CD’s and love a good root around charity shops for records.

One of my best friends is the actor Kevin Eldon, he has fine taste, my brother recommends too.

Hello Liza,
I don't know if this is Q & A, but here it goes anyway:
The question I would like answered most of all, if possible is, can you please tell us what shows or/and series you will be working on next and where and when they will be shown, after you've had your break ? - Cam
I’ll probably do something for the end of the year, but the acting job won’t be until next year

Liza, you have said you want to concentrate on your acting career, can you please tell us what you would like to act in?
I’m doing a series called “Linda Green” at the end of this year, written by a tremendous writer called Paul Abbot. I saw the first episode and it was good enough to make me say "Yes please" I can't really tell you more than that as it may all change. I’d love to do a period drama too.

Will you continue on with presenting as well as acting and what show/series would like to present ....I hope you continue to present, because I think you are damn fine presenter.
Ta Lah, I love presenting things, but definitely feel your heart should be in the subject matter or there’s nothing to talk about. I love Time Team off the top of my head, my mum got us all into history and archeology.

Do you get recognized a lot out and about, any anecdotes you care to share?
Yes, I think it’s mainly to do with being on telly every day, so I’m sure it will drop off a bit and I don’t go out of my way to be in the papers. I don’t like it when people just stand there talking about you, like you’re deaf, I’d much rather just gab and thankfully that happens all the time. It’s all about what mood you’re in I guess and it’s always easier if you’re out with a friend.
Thanks for your time.
Cam:)

heya Liza,
Do you ever get so annoyed with Johnny that you'd like to slap him for butting in when you try to speak...? I'm a huuuuuge fan of his and it annoys me...:) - Little One
J.V drives the show and I’m very happy to lt him do that. He does check himself and he does look after me, and I like to think that I do the same for him.

Just wondering Liza if theres a man in your life at the moment or is there too much DIY to be done and too many mice to catch? - Kev
The mouse has buggered off and there’s always DIY to do, but I wouldn’t recognise a pass if it bit me on the jacksy.

Re: HIGNFY Is is true they edit to make the regulars look better, and that the show takes hours to film? - Doug Douggler
They edit the show to make EVERYONE look better, it takes about an hour and a half and they basically feed you lines to create the comedy, I think it’s a fantastic programme and it never fails to make me laugh out loud at least once. Kathy Burke made me do it!

Was that photo real of John Lennon, your old man, and Peter Sissons? 
Yes. You should see some of the stuff mum and dad have got at home. Fabulous old photos, John Lennon used to shout up my nana’s letter box (nothing pervy!) he went out with one of my mums best mates before he went out with Cynthia. Dad handed Elvis a lemonade once and mum insists he actually asked HER to pass it to him. They got around my mum and dad. Still do.

Liza it would be great if, in the future you and Johnny presented a late night show together. Johnny has said he'd like to present an evening show, and if you were co-hosting it, it would be even better! So...what do you think? Can you see yourself and Johnny teaming up again in the future? - Wade
I think we should yes, who knows eh?

Liza, you understandably get annoyed when people get your name wrong, do you ever wish you were called something else....maybe something like Tamsin?
Personally I think Liza is much nicer than Lisa, and it gets' on my nerves as well when people call you Lisa. - Wade
I suit the zig zag much more than the s-bend, I let it go a lot as it’s a sure sign someone doesn’t really know me, life’s too short, but thankyou. Some people on the website post “Lisa” to pretend they’re not from the office.

When your at home, do you ever bother looking at the BB forum when your on the internet?
Yes and I stopped with all that poison came on about certain unborn babies. Vile.

I noticed you posted during Richie Bacon's O.B on Friday, I don't suppose you purposely go into the phone room and ask Webbo what's up on the forum do you?
I may be being cheeky and selfish here but, couldn't you and Johnny post more often on here before you leave?When your not doing an item, maybe you could take a minute to do something on here? :) - Wade
Yes if I can, I do, but if a guest has just arrived I’m better off trying to relax them a bit. Sometimes it gets very frantic depending who is up in the gallery, but Webbo and Cockney Vik run a very relaxed and tight little ship.

Is it true you want to move to Hollywood?
No, you made that up

I saw your Dad interviewed on "Parkinson", and he said he is now known as "Liza's Dad" to young people, that's kinda nice for you isn't it?
Seeing as though you are sometimes labeled "Comics daughter".
Yes it is nice but I’m also very proud to be known as JT’s daughter. When I was a angry young thing it used to wind me up, but maybe it drove me too.

Liza, I live in Cornwall, you said you like Cornish Pasties, if you ever want a Cornish Pasty I'd send you one before you could say "Wade, I'd love a Cornish Pasty, would you be kind enough to send me one?".
I go down to Cornwall quite a bit, I love it and I do see a time when I won’t be able to live in London anymore. I certainly could live there.
 

Has Johnny asked you if you'd like to appear in his sitcom?
No.

Can you think of one moment from a show (BB), that you wish had never happened?
That snot was hilarious but it’s my worst thing, I thought it was on my leg and I nearly gagged.

Can you think of one moment from a show (BB), you wish had happened but it never did?
I wish we were allowed to do character stuff still, our lawyers got a bit twitchy, especially with Aunty Tina and Jason. Bit near the knuckle apparently.

Can you think of one moment from the show (BB), that'll stay with you for the rest of your life?
It’s a very unique experience all together and I’ll miss it very much. I’m dreading my last week.

Is it a pleasure or a pressure to work with Johnny?
A pleasure, we understand each other very well but he’s been very selfish with his dog of late.

Liza thanks to you and Johnny for giving us the best show that is seen on our beautiful planet :)
And best of luck with all that comes your way after the Big Breakfast.
We'll miss you!
...I mean we'll miss not seeing you every morning, but we'll hopefully be seeing much more of you because hopefully you'll still be on the telly... Bye. Love the show. Wade.

Why did you decide to leave the Big Breakfast? - JW
I gave myself a year, it’s not the getting up at 4am, it’s the knock-on that has on the rest of your life. I was away a lot before and I wanted to be at home for a while, I don’t see enough of my mates.

In your Telegraph interview, you were quoted as saying "You are going against nature, getting up at four in the morning. It's a time when the tides recede throughout the world. We are very much tied in with the moon." I'm intrigued by that remark. Were you saying that tides actually recede throughout the world at 4, or was it meant metaphorically, or perhaps even as a joke?
I read what you said at the time. I spent 6 months researching a programme about the moon and was intrigued by it’s power on water, I’m a real bore on the subject. Don’t read too much in to it.

When you a stood in for Kelly for 3 days last July, did you already know she was going to be replaced as co-host?
No.

How much influence do you have over what you wear on the show?
It was hard finding a replacement for the fab Sue Judd (in wardrobe), but now we have Babette and my life is easy – there are rules and we try to avoid repeating too much. I buy my own shoes in the main.

Are there any books that you reread?
“The Hobbit” and I must read “perfume”. I loved “widow for one year” and read “The memoirs of a Geisha” in Portugal. I love poetry too…. I read all the time and always have.

What have you left undone that you ought to have done?
Bit deep isn’t it?
 

Liza, Just a little question from little old me, up here in Liverpool...(well Prescot, actually !)
As you knew Johnny before you started working with him, and obviously see him outside work, Is he anything like he is on the show ? or is he just an ordinary bloke who doesnt rant on about Germans, and Mutton chops, and tabards !? - Blue Eyes
He hasn’t stopped talking since 1972.

I must say, it probably seems funny to all us, that he can be deadly serious... and are you, yourself, as Bubbly and outgoing in your private life ?
Obviously the anti must be upped for the show, but we’re always got each other ‘at it’. J.V can be very serious when he has to be, and sometimes he has to be, as we all do. I love him and I trust him.

Thanks... TTFN....Blue Eyes...

P.S. Little One and I will be at the fence sometime in June, I hope we'll meet you then, and to see Johnny is a must !!
 

Before I ask them, I just want to say that it's good that Liza comes in here quite often and says something. Now if she could just use the aforementioned Big Stick to prod Johnny onto the forum...
Would you ever consider coming back to the BB for a few weeks, like Denise seems to be? - Tas
I think that would undermine the new presenter actually, but I’m never adverse to filling in.

Do you ever get tired of people slagging the presenters off in here, or do you think we should get to discuss things as freely as possible? - Tas
I think it’s tremendous that there is a website at all.

Has your brother done any other acting stuff? I thought he was good in that short film that spawned 'Lock, Stock...' Tas'
He does a bit of this and a bit of that and always has done, he’s got an advert on at the moment but he’s very involved with this new technique of making and editing film at the moment. 

# Did you enjoy your holiday? - Dale
I had a lovely time thankyou. I love Portugal because the beaches are wonderful, it’s very peaceful where we were, had a right laugh.
 

# How is the mouse, still loose in your house? - Dale
No the swine seems to have moved, although it would be like breaking in to Fort Knox now. Vermin are devious though, and I’m still vigilant.

# What is the most valuble piece of advice ever given to you, and by who? - Dale
“Never let the skin of your arse make a banjo” from Prince Michael of Kent

# What is the worst piece of advice you have ever been given, and who gave that advice to you? - Dale
I don’t know, but when I see him I’ll batter him.

# What would you say are your best and worst characteristics? - Dale
I have a problem answering this question.

# What is your most enduring memory of your childhood? - Dale
Too many to note, I remember my mate Roxy and I getting stuck in a river in our wellies and no one knew we were there, we were about 3, that was an early lesson.

# Do you have any phobias? If so what are they? - Dale
I’m not mad about spiders.

# Simpsons or South Park? - Dale
Simpsons, but I do like South Park and King of the Hill

# Do you have any ambitions to do films?
I’d love to.

# How do you deal with critics who dis you? Being in show business and all!
Part of the territory really isn’t it?

# Got any advice for people wanting to get into acting or presenting?
Not really no, things happen as they’re meant to.

# What totally annoys you (besides people always calling you Lisa)?
Plastic bags in trees.

# Did the whole pig fascination on the brekkie come from you or Vaughany?
I do love pigs.

That is all I can think of - for now anyway!
Regards Dale
 

Hiya Liza - Just a couple of questions about your last chat really:
1) Somebody asked if you would go back to hosting 'She's Got To Have It' and you replied 'I can't'. I got the impression that things were very rushed then, can you say why you can't now? And if could go back to presenting it would you - I agree the series has not been the same without you. - Jacob
They were rushed then yes, but I still can’t go into it really. I had a ball and my team were really lovely but I wouldn’t go back to it, it wouldn’t be the same. I thought the format was great though.

2) In 'Heat' magazine they quoted you as saying that you give secret signals to your dad whilst on the BB, but in the chat when asked about these secret signals you said that was 'journo rubbish'. What did you mean by that term? - Jacob
It was just a silly snippet for them to pick up on. I don’t send signals really, if we’ve got a phone though, we do ring him in the break, he’s mad for the Friday song.
 

Aunty Leez - I was just wondering where you're scouse accent has disappeared to? Lovin' you - L.A.

I only put it on for “Watching” I was a toddler when mum and dad moved South.

Thanks for making me laugh.

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