Where the T4 cast is now – from being sacked by the X Factor to clashing with a mega pop star and a very famous TV lady
THEY were sexy, cool and dominated TV programs in the 2000s with their top banter and good model looks.
And the presenters of T4 have almost all become big, household names.
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The Channel 4 teen hit, which aired from 1998 to 2012, nurtured the talents of stars like Miquita Oliver, June Sarpong, Dermot O’Leary, Vernon Kay and Alexa Chung.
And a decade after the end, former hunky presenter Steve Jones made his debut on This Morning – and was quick to wow fans with his wit and charm.
He said: “I was hosting T4 and I thought This Morning is essentially T4 for adults.”
The weekend entertainment program was broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays.
The team provides segments and links between popular programs like Hollyoaks and Shipwrecked.
Despite the many success stories, some presenters like Anthony Crank, Omar Gurnah and Georgie Okell have stepped out of the limelight.
Anthony has landed some acting roles on Coronation Street and Shameless.
Omar works in marketing while Georgie went to Sweden to work at Barry’s Bootcamp as a fitness pro.
Other members of the cast, including Alex Zane and Simon Amstell, are still busy and fully booked.
Here, Felicity Cross introduces T4’s superstar graduates. . .
Dermot O’Leary (1998-2001)
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DERMOT O’Leary, 50, was a DJ at BBC Essex before landing a job as part of the original presenter cast at T4.
Channel 4 chose him to star in the reality spin-off series Big Brother’s Little Brother from 2001 to 2008.
And he appeared in McFly’s music video for “All About You,” Comic Relief’s official 2005 single.
In 2007, Simon Cowell selected him to host The X Factor, a role he held until 2018. He also guest-starred on This Morning for a week in 2014.
At the BBC he had his own chat show, Dermot Meets. . . and game show The Getaway Car.
Margaret Taylor (1999-2001)
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MARGHERITA Taylor also started out in local radio and was working at the BRMB in Birmingham when she was spotted by Capital London.
In 1999, she landed a spot on the T4 grid, working with Dermot and later Vernon Kay.
She has also appeared on Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, Countryfile and This Morning.
But her first love was always radio and she’s still a key member of the Capital team, hosting on Smooth and Classic FM, where she’s currently the Drivetime presenter.
Ben Shepherd (1999-2000)
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BEN Shephard became a morning TV regular in 1998 and hosted the spin-off The Bigger Breakfast.
That same year, Channel 4 bosses sent him to T4.
Two years later he joined ITV’s GMTV as an entertainment presenter, then as main presenter in 2005.
He left the show in 2010, weeks before it was canceled anyway, but returned to ITV in 2014 to present the relaunched program Good Morning Britain, where he remains to this day.
Ben, pictured with Dermot and T4 inventor Andi Peters, has rarely gone out of style thanks to his breakfast slot, game show Tipping Point and Ninja Warrior UK.
June Sarpong (2000–2007)
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June Sarpong started at Kiss FM, then moved to MTV — before T4 called.
She interviewed ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair for a T4 special and became one of the busiest presenters on TV, including Your Face or Mine? with Jimmy Carr. She was also present at Question Time.
In 2007, June received an MBE for her services to broadcasting and charity – and made a name for herself as an equality activist.
She was a panelist on ITV’s Loose Women and became the BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity in 2019.
Vernon Kay (2000-2005)
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He was working as a model when he was selected for T4 – and his celebrity status soon skyrocketed.
After leaving the show in 2006, Vernon, 49, hosted several other teen shows for the BBC and ITV, but it was All Star Family Fortunes that made him a household name.
He has since tried hosting everything from game shows to sports coverage and has been a presenter on BBC Radio 1 and Radio X.
He is currently the morning presenter on BBC Radio 2, having replaced Ken Bruce earlier this year. TV star Tess Daly, 54, is his wife.
Steve Jones (2003-2010)
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Welsh hunk Steve, 46, was a model when T4 talent discovered him – and he’s become one of the show’s most popular faces.
In 2011 he was chosen by Simon Cowell to present his new X Factor US.
But a bombshell ensued and Steve was fired after one streak.
He struggled for years to find a suitable job before presenting Formula 1 for Channel 4.
He is now on the presenter list of ITV’s This Morning.
Miquita Oliver (2006-2010)
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Unlike the others, Miquita had five years experience on Channel 4 music show Popworld before joining T4.
But in 2010, she was suspended from the teen hit after hearing her insult singer Kesha.
She has also claimed she lost her job radio 1 for “saying stupid things”.
Since then, Miquita, 39, has appeared on a number of shows including Celebrity Gogglebox.
Rick Edwards (2007-2011)
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RICK was a stand-up performer while studying at Cambridge University, which made him perfect for T4 – his first job on television.
After the teen show, he quickly racked up multiple moderations at Tool Academy and Made In Chelsea plus sports coverage and a daytime quiz show for BBC One called !mpossible.
He also hosted the political debate program Free Speech for BBC Three, including a series of special programs during the 2015 general election.
Since 2021 he has found a home on the Radio 5Live Breakfast Show.
Alexa Chung (2008-2009)
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She began modeling after being discovered at the age of 16 while watching a comedy at the Reading Festival and became a teenage supermodel.
In 2006, she took over the presidency of Popworld alongside Alex Zane before joining T4.
As a result, she became a fashion icon, inspired an Alexa handbag by British designer Mulberry, and dated big names like Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner and actor Alexander Skarsgard.
She turned back to style and lifestyle content on television for shows like Gok’s Fashion Fix, Next In fashion and founding her own fashion label.
Jameela Jamil (2009-2012)
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JAMEELA was working as a teacher when she was spotted by a producer in a bar and then emailed her to apply for T4.
She followed Alexa on the music show Freshly Squeezed alongside Nick Grimshaw and became a DJ on Radio 1 and in events – her first show was at Elton John’s birthday party.
In 2016, she moved to LA to become a screenwriter but eventually landed a role in the NBC comedy The Good Place as Tahani Al-Jamil.
She has also become an activist for equality.
Nick Grimshaw (2010-2012)
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GRIMMY started out on student radio before getting a job on Radio 1’s youth program Switch in 2007.
His career really took off the following year, when he landed the network’s weekend breakfast show before moving on to become a late-night presenter.
In 2010, Nick, 39, added T4 to his roster and managed him until he was promoted to the Beeb’s breakfast show, replacing Chris Moyles.
On television, he has been a judge on The X Factor, has directed cameos for soap operas such as EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and has also starred in Celebrity Gogglebox.
Will Best (2011-2012)
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ER might have been one of T4’s last hosts, but Will continued the trend of his team reaching great heights.
When the show ended, he was a presenter on the E4 speed dating show Love Shaft.
He was also a panelist on Big Brother spin-off Bit On The Side.
Roles on ITV followed, including Dance Dance Dance with Alesha Dixon.
But when work dried up, 38-year-old Will started a beverage company that made canned Bloody Mary cocktails.
He is gearing up to return to television this autumn in the rebooted ITVX series Big Brother.