Given that Chris Tarrant reportedly got into television by writing to TV companies with the bold statement that ‘I am the face of the 1970s and this is your last chance to snap me up' it's understandable that the media was quick to imply that he had been indulging in a bit of wife-beating - a popular pastime of that decade.
In fact he was, as he admits in a remarkably frank interview in the Telegraph, just pissed and had a loud argument with his younger partner and the police were called but there was no case to answer.
So Tarrant likes a drink and, as has been very publicly revealed by scorned former partners, he's got a wandering eye, particularly for younger blonde woman. But he's also the best entertainer of his generation and will endure long after Ant & Dec do a Hale & Pace or Graeme Norton's career goes the same way as Barrymore's.
From Tiswas in the 70s, Capital Radio and Tarrant on TV in the 80s and 90s and up to the current day with Millionaire, Tarrant has been an enduring figure, in my life anyway.
And at 64, he's got another 20 years left in him if he follows Brucie's example by which time I'll be in my 50s (and following behind him there's Justin Lee-Collins - that should see me out). For that reason Chris Tarrant is a complete legend and is officially on the National Treasures list.
