Alan Carr set for job on huge new reality show after being snubbed by ITV bosses for BGT role
AFTER snubbing ALAN CARR for Britain’s Got Talent, ITV1 may have found a way to keep him sweet – by making him a judge on another show.
I can reveal that the funnyman — who was thought to be a shoo-in to replace David Walliams on BGT — is set to join the panel of theatre talent contest Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream.
Being one of the faces of the Abbafest might be just enough to stop him defecting entirely to BBC1, after they signed him up to present their upcoming Saturday night quiz, Picture Slam.
A TV insider said: “Alan felt fed up that he missed out on the BGT judging role to Bruno Tonioli, but getting the Abba show would go a long way towards compensating him.
“And he’d be the perfect fit because, like the Swedish singing legends, he is huge fun, brilliantly camp and loved by millions of viewers.
‘Very in demand’
“It just remains to be seen if Alan and ITV can hammer out a deal because he is very in demand at the moment.”
Set to air later this year, Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will see hopefuls compete to land the lead roles of Sophie and Sky in a new West End production of the musical, based on the Abba-themed movie.
The contestants will be mentored by industry stars and judged by a panel of famous faces.
The process will end with a grand finale, broadcast from a theatre in London, where two winners will be picked.
It’s a similar format to the BBC1 shows, I’d Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? which all saw wannabes compete for places in big stage musical productions.
Alan certainly has a lot of experience in entertainment to draw on.
He started out in stand-up comedy, became a chat show host, then a TV presenter and gameshow host.
He’s also one of the driving forces behind upcoming drama Changing Ends, an adaptation of his autobiography, which he also stars in.
No doubt he will now be inspired to turn it into a musical too.
CHARLIE UNMASKS REUNION
CHARLIE SIMPSON left pop boyband Busted because he wanted to be one of the cool kids – but now he just wants his kids to think he’s cool.
The crooner quit the band in 2005 to become a serious indie musician, first with rock band Fightstar then as a solo artist.
On Saturday he was unmasked as Rhino to be crowned winner of ITV’s Saturday night juggernaut The Masked Singer.
Asked if he was worried going mainstream would affect his streetcred, Charlie told me: “I wondered if there would be like, ‘Oh blah blah, you’re doing a Saturday night television show’ but there has been zero backlash or people saying that online.
“The people who I thought would find it weird actually think it’s awesome.
“Also my kids love the show and I was really excited about seeing their reaction when the mask came off.
“I think weirdly The Masked Singer is cool, man! I think it’s this off-the-wall show, it’s escapism and it lives in its own lane. My kids were blown away by it.”
Now Charlie is planning to ride the wave of popularity since his win, and teased a huge Busted reunion to mark the band’s 20th anniversary this year.
He added: “There are some big plans in the works.”
SPLICE OF PIZZA, MEGAN?
THE wedding in this Sunday’s Call The Midwife was meant to be a classy affair.
But actress Helen George, who plays bride Trixie Franklin, said co-star Megan Cusack lowered the tone by dropping pizza on herself.
The actress plays Nancy Corrigan, one of Trixie’s bridesmaids for her wedding to Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix).
Speaking to Radio Times, Helen says: “We’d been given pizzas, and Megan got grease all over her dress. It was a drama.”
Olly also revealed many fans have messaged saying they don’t trust Matthew with Trixie.
He said: “I wanted to reassure people and say, ‘It’s not going to be what you think it is. Matthew is a decent guy.’”
We’ll see on Sunday.
BORIS SMASHES IT ON RETURN
EIGHT months of porridge doesn’t look too bad on Boris Becker.
The tennis legend was suited and booted as he walked the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival to promote a film about his life, weeks after his release from prison.
The former Wimbledon champ – who served eight months of a two-year jail sentence for hiding £2.5million of assets and loans to avoid paying debts – posed for photographers alongside partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro.
Apple TV+ documentary Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker features two big interviews with the German tennis ace, one conducted three days before he was sentenced in April last year.
The film also has contributions from those close to him, including his ex-wife Barbara, court rival John McEnroe and his former coaches.
A SWAN SONG FOR MADOC
THE family of the late Ruth Madoc were asked if they wanted to keep her final scenes in the new Death In Paradise spin-off.
The Welsh Hi-de-Hi! legend died in December, shortly after shooting a cameo in Beyond Paradise.
Writer and exec producers Tony Jordan and Tim Key have revealed they were ready to pull her scene if her family were not happy for it to air.
Tony told me: “It’s a cameo but she’s so amazing.
“We had to consider her family, before we decided whether she should stay in the show.
“Tim had conversations with them.”
He added: “You have to respect the wishes of the person who has since died but what’s bittersweet is that it is her final TV appearance, after such a wonderful career.
“So many of us grew up with her as Gladys in Hi-de-Hi!”
The BBC1 series starts on Friday.
THE BBC is giving Eurovision fans a treat with two specials to celebrate the contest in May.
The Greatest Show On Earth will give 25 reasons why the event is so loved, while The Winner Isn’t will focus on artists who had chart hits despite being Eurovision flops.
Both will air on BBC1 and iPlayer.