Timmy Mallett, former DJ and 1980s children's TV presenter, is creating a social media storm, during a cycle tour around Northern Ireland, in tribute to his late brother, Martin who had Down's Syndrome. Timmy Mallett was a massive star on children's TV in the 1980s and 90s. He honed his zany style of presenting on Piccadilly Radio in Manchester. Amongst his helpers were a teenage Chris Evans and the Today programme's Nick Robinson. He then went on to breakfast television where he presented the Wide Awake Club with Michaela Strachan and then Wacaday. A generation of children grew up watching him and his trusty foam mallet, Pinky Punky which he used to bonk competitors on the head when they stumbled or hesitated in his word association game Mallett's Mallet. Nowadays, he's swapped the Mallet for the artist's palette and is as successful at art as he was at children's TV presenting. At the age of 68, he's cycling round Northern Ireland, giving mini history lessons and tour guides on TikTok whilst painting scenes of his travels in memory of his late brother. PRESENTER: Mark Coles CONTRIBUTORSMairia Cahill, Sunday Independent, Ireland
Professor Brian Cox, Professor of Particle Physics, University of Manchester
Helen and Peter Francis, family friends
Tony Ingham, former Head of Entertainment, Piccadilly Radio, Manchester
Michaela Strachan, TV presenter
Nick Robinson, Zack the ZitPRODUCTION CREDITSRadio Luxembourg
Piccadilly Radio, Manchester
TV-AM Wide Awake Club and WacadayPRODUCTION TEAM Producers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Ibtisam Zein