BBC steal another big ITV star for their new Saturday night show line-up
THE BBC have swooped in and nabbed Alan Carr from ITV after he was snubbed for the Britain’s Got Talent judging job in favour of Strictly star Bruno Tonioli.
The funnyman, 46, will become one of the big new faces of BBC1’s Saturday night line-up as host of new quiz show Picture Slam.
He’s the latest in a string of ITV talent that the Beeb have targeted for their new shows including Bradley Walsh who’s set to front their reboot of Gladiators later this year.
A TV insider said: “Getting the big-money signing is payback for Alan, who was viewed as a shoo-in as replacement for the exiting David Walliams as BGT judge.
“It was a slight to be in the running for the position for months only to be knocked out of the race at the last minute – particularly as Bruno shot to fame on a BBC show.
“Now Alan could be an even bigger star of Saturday night telly that he might have been had he got the role on the BGT panel.”
For the past three years Alan has proved a hit fronting Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow for ITV on a Saturday night and now ITV bosses have said the show won’t be returning for a new series this year, saying it is being “rested.”
But when he was approached for the Beeb, he said he: “jumped at the chance.”
Speaking for the first time this week about Bruno usurping him to become BGT judge, he told Metro newspaper: “I was just watching this all unfurl in the paper, it was very odd.
“And then Bruno (got it) and I thought: ‘Oh good for him’ but it’s so weird.”
Alan has been increasingly working with the BBC over the past two years, fonting Interior Design Masters , which returns later this year, as well as recent series Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job, which saw him star with his mate, BGT judge Amanda Holden.
