I’m desperate to land celeb version of my gameshow so I can embarrass my showbiz mates, says Roman Kemp ahead of launch
ROMAN KEMP’s phone book has got to be one of the most star-spangled, with the lad littering his radio show with tales of showbiz parties and A-list nights out.
So it’s no surprise he hopes to sprinkle that stardust on his new daytime gameshow, The Finish Line.
The quiz challenges contestants to answer a series of quick-fire questions to beat each other to the finish line, and it will debut on BBC One this autumn.
But I can reveal Roman already has bigger plans.
He told me: “I’ve nearly got the all-clear on a celebrity version of the show.
“The one I keep pushing to do it is Alex Jones from The One Show, because Alex will be crap!”
He would also love to line up his dad, Spandau Ballet and EastEnders star Martin Kemp.
I am sure Dad will want in, and given that he had women lobbing bras at him during a DJ set at the Rewind North Festival in Cheshire over the weekend, I have no doubt viewers will be keen on the idea too.
Roman added: “I want all the people I know that will be rubbish, so Alex and my dad, they’re the first.”
But he did turn to Martin and his mum Shirlie for advice.
Roman said: “The show requires me to speak at a million miles an hour, the questions are so quick.
“It’s my first time as a quiz show host
“We shot it and I was so bad.
“I remember leaving the studio, calling Mum and Dad and being like, ‘I’m rubbish, I can’t do it’.
“Dad said, ‘Ro, go to bed. Forget about today, tomorrow you start again’.
“The next day we started nailing it.”
Roman co-hosts with Blue Peter legend Sarah Greene.
He said: “Working with Sarah was unbelievable, so good.
“And she’ll forgive me for saying this, but the first time I met her, I had no idea who she was.
“We’ve done this meeting and at the end she goes, ‘Oh, sweetie, I’m so looking forward to it’.
“I said, ‘I’m sorry, the whole time I thought you were one of the bigwigs’.”
Fred’s prawnography
FRED SIRIEIX gets a bit saucy with guest Dermot O’Leary in the new series of Remarkable Places To Eat tonight.
The show’s French host is joined by This Morning presenter Dermot in Puglia, Italy, where they sit down for a meal for two at a seafood restaurant.
And Fred doesn’t hold back in giving Dermot a risque lesson on how to chow down on shellfish.
Dermot, who has a home in the region, asks the restaurateur and First Dates maitre d: “Are you going to eat it with a spoon or just the stick-your-tongue-out method?”
Opting for a spoon, Fred replies: “I love to stick my tongue in things but I’m a bit afraid of the pricks here!”
The show recently moved from BBC Two to Channel 4 and Fred said of its return: “I’m so excited to get back on the road to discover remarkable places to eat with an array of wonderful co-hosts.
“This is not just about restaurants but travel and special shared moments.”
See it tonight at 9pm on More4.
Matt is doing a Jeremy
MATT BAKER could soon be giving fellow TV farmer Jeremy Clarkson a run for his money.
The former One Show star, who runs his family farm in the Durham Dales, is yet to sell merchandise to promote his goods, unlike The Grand Tour host and Sun columnist Jeremy’s Diddly Squat Farm.
But after heading to America for his new Channel 4 farming series, which aired its first episode on Saturday evening, he’s now had a change of heart.
The Travels In The Country: USA star said: “The huge farms in America all sell their own merchandise – baseball caps and T-shirt – and we had it on while filming.
“I brought some back, and now we’re walking round the house with it on.
“My daughter’s been saying, ‘Dad, we should get some merch for our farm. I mean, why not?”
HARRY STYLES is loving a portrait of him painted by comic Joe Lycett after another was unveiled by artist David Hockney.
Joe shared a message from Harry that said: “It’s important that I purchase this portrait.
“If you’d consider parting with this masterpiece I’d hang it in my home.”
Brenda’s fave for Strictly
LOOSE Women host Kaye Adams failed to set Strictly alight last year, but her co-stars have high hopes for another of the chat show’s favourites in the 2023 series.
Brenda Edwards is tipped to take part and Loose Women pal Charlene White reckons she would smash it.
Charlene said: “If you see the rhythm and moves that woman has, it will blow everyone away.
“She’s one of the nicest people in my life.
“We would be there in the front row screaming.”
Strictly pro Graziano Di Prima has partnered Loose Women’s Judi Love and Chizzy Akudolu on the BBC show, and Charlene said: “Judi loved a little bit of Graziano, Chizzy loved a little bit of Graziano.
“I’m sure Brenda would love to be partnered with him. Who wouldn’t?”
On Friday, Angela Rippon, Amanda Abbington and Layton Williams were the show’s first stars officially unveiled.
YASMIN FINNEY has promised Doctor Who fans a treat when the show’s 60th anniversary episodes air on the BBC in November.
The Heart-stopper actress, making her debut as the Doctor’s sidekick Rose, said: “You can look forward to a lot of scary things. It [sends] shivers down your spine.”
Crime’s paid for Dougray
GRITTY ITV drama Crime will return this autumn, after its popular debut last year.
Dougray Scott will return as troubled detective Ray Lennox in the thriller, adapted from Irvine Welsh’s bestselling novel of the same name.
The six-parter will see the cop hunt down a killer who targets one of his own team.
Dougray said of the new series: “Making Crime has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my career.”
The actor will be joined by series one stars Joanna Vanderham, Ken Stott, John Simm and Derek Riddell – as well as his real-life son Gabriel Scott.
Crime will air exclusively on ITVX from September 21.