Chris TarrantWe chat exclusively with Chris Tarrant whose new show Tarrant Lets The Kids Loose begins this week on Watch.

He told us how he still loves Millionaire, why he's still a child a heart and why you'll never see him on a reality TV show.

Tell us a bit about the show
It's a secret camera show featuring children. They get left in situations and are filmed by hidden cameras.

So to give you an example, let's say a parent and child go off to the hairdressers together. Mum tells the child, 'sorry darling, I've left something in the car, I'll be back in the minute. The hairdresser will look after you.' Mum then goes.

The hairdresser then tells the child, 'I've run out of shampoo, i just need to pop out, can you look after the shop for me?'

There's a variety of these situations where children are put in charge.

Was it quite daunting for the kids?
I didn't realise that at the age of five you're completely un-phased by anything, but if you're eight or nine, you'll be like 'I can't do that.'

One three year old is left in a museum for the day.  He's so cool though, he knows everything there is to know about dinosaurs.

So how did you film it?
We got 14 tiny cameras, like the ones used on cricket stumps in matches, and placed them all around the hairdressers. Plus, there are various production people and extras on the set too.

One of the team pretended to be a customer and the child involved was actually cutting lumps out of her hair.

It still hasn't grown back.

At the end of it the mum comes along and collects the child. They have no idea, it's not like Beadle when all is revealed. They later get invited back and get to see the film, and that's when they realise it's a joke. It's so sweet.

So what attracted you to do this show?
I'm not joking, a pilot comes through my door every day. This is not a replacement for the game show stuff, but I just loved it.

We don't seem to have shows with kids on anymore, proper family entertainment.

I used to love Michael Aspel doing Child's Play. Of all the shows they keep bringing back, I think 'not Family Fortunes again.' Ronnie Corbett did a great show called Small Talk.

Those shows weren't schmaltzy, they were really nice and really sweet.  I don't think there are any shows with kids on any more.

You mainly find kids on reality shows like Britain's Got Talent.
They're so unkind to children on those shows. I'm no latter day saint, but what ever happened to family entertainment?

The children on this show are not stage school kids, they're from really normal backgrounds.

We're guessing it was a laugh to film.
Oh yeah, it was heart-warming too. It was quite emotional for some of the parents. The original title of the show was My Little Soldier. It was real lump in the throat stuff, you should have seen some of the big burly dads with tears in their eyes. Nobody comes out of it looking badly it's just sweet.

Also I spent the entire show on my knees. I'm 6ft 4 looking down at these little four year olds, so had to get down to their level otherwise it would be quite inhibiting. I had to keep getting new suits as the knees were getting worn.

What's the show you've enjoyed hosting the most?
I still have a madness for Tiswas. We did the revisted show last year to celebrate 25 years and it was such a craic. We all got together, had an absolute riot doing it and then just went back to our lives. It reminded me of how much fun telly used to be. 

Is that because you're basically a big child at heart?
Yes of course. It's almost pathetic, but absolutely.
 
Do you still enjoy doing Millionaire?
I love Millionaire but there's just not the freedom in TV anymore, there's so much legislation.

Are you working on any other projects?
I'm doing a very serious news radio piece which I can't say more about. But people will be pretty surprised.

Ooh sounds intriguing.
I can't say more than that I'm afraid.

Are you following X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing?
No. I don't give toss. I couldn't care less. I don't care if Arlene's back on Strictly. It's just entertaiment isn't it? I don't lose sleep over Simon Cowell, I think he's just fine.

Would you ever appear in a reality TV show?
No. One, I'm still alive and the two I'm still working. Why would I ever want to be in the jungle eating dead bugs? No thank you.

Never say never.
Never. You'll never find me eating cockroaches with Darren Day.

Find out when Tarrant Lets The Kids Loose is showing on TV.