Chris Serle endured having tarantula crawl up arm on ‘That’s Life!’ despite crippling arachnophobia

Chris Serle endured having a tarantula crawl up his arm on ‘That’s Life!’ despite his crippling arachnophobia.

The much-loved BBC radio and TV presenter, who rose to fame on the show alongside TV presenters including Dame Esther Rantzen, 84, was killed by a stroke on 16 September aged 81, and his passing was confirmed by his family on Monday (23.09.24) – sparking a flood of tributes from broadcasters and celebrities.

His scariest TV moments have now been detailed in an obituary on the late host in The Times, which said as well as his tarantula encounter, he also admitted he was plunging himself into risky situations on ‘That’s Life!’ by confronting dodgy tradesmen.

The tribute said Chris recalled about carrying out on-screen investigations into dodgy car salesmen, bogus businessmen and phoney plumbers: “It's true, we do occasionally find ourselves in heavy situations, with the possibility of physical attack.

“But you are more likely to get a door slammed in your face than a fist in it.”

It added Chris had an “intense phobia of spiders” so severe he insisted he could never pick up one of the arachnids.

The Times said he recalled about one occasion on ‘That’s Life!’ in which a tarantula was filmed crawling up his arm: “I was scared rigid… the viewers enjoy seeing me make a fool of myself.”

Chris’ other notable TV appearances included explaining the then-mysteries of computer technology in the show ‘The Computer Programme’.

Bristol-born Chris was described by his loved ones in a tribute as a “familiar and cherished figure on British television screens throughout the 1970s and 1980s”.

His former ‘That’s Life!’ co-host Dame Esther Rantzen, 84, said she was “very sad” to hear that he had died, adding in a statement: “He was as nice off camera as he was in the studio on camera – funny, clever, charming, a very versatile presenter.”

She went on: “When I first met him he was a producer, but it was clear that he had all the attributes of the best reporters.

“Viewers and listeners of ‘That’s Life!’ and the many other radio and television programmes he presented will be equally sad.”

Chris also chaired Radio 4’s ‘Pick of the Week’ between 1981 and 1988 and was the host of a long-running afternoon show on BBC Radio Bristol.

He is survived by his wife Ali and their three children, as well as two kids from a previous marriage.

The BBC has said: “His family said funeral and memorial service details are being arranged and will be shared in due course.”