At last a role he can sink his teeth into! Tim Ferguson, famous for his crazy antics with the song and dance trio The Doug Anthony Allstars, has become host of the Nine Network's latest quiz show, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush.
Fellow TV celebrities have been knocking on his dressing room door with advice- Sale of the Century's Glenn Ridge has already filled him in on the art of questioning, and Larry Emdur from The Price is Right will pop down over any day to help him brush up on his game show patter. But come August 15, when the show premiers, Tim will be on his own.
"It encompasses just about everything you can get on television, but I'd call it an anti-game show," explains Tim, who at 190 cm towers over most of his TV counterparts. "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush has music, it's got singing, comedy, action, a little bit of singing, comedy, action, a little bit of sport. It's got games, quizzes, trivia, prizes, explosions and travel. It's all going to be totally live and totally national. It's huge- that probably explains why I have hardly slept in a month."
The audience is required to come with their bags packed- hence the shows name- not forgetting their toothbrushes and passports, because after each show one will be flying overseas for a holiday. Home viewers also have the chance to win a trip away.
"I spent 10 great years with the Allstars- and I've spent 10 years wanting to do something like this- and lo and behold, some fool says I can do it," laughs Tim. Toothbrush is not Tim's first TV appearance. The Allstars had their own show on ABC Television, D.A.A.S. Kapital, and were regulars on The Big Gig. More recently, Tim was filling quirky news stories for Today.
He has also tried out politics - a career path he still hopes to follow. But for the moment, his heart, soul and gums are right behind Toothbrush. "It's hysterically frightening but it's a hell of a challenge. It should be fun," and he adds, batting the eyelashes that fringe his big brown eyes, "a little bit sexy."
