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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Domachowski

Alan Carr 'set for job on huge role on ITV' after Britain's Got Talent snub

Alan Carr is reportedly set to get a job judging on huge new reality show after being snubbed by ITV bosses to replace David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent.

The funnyman is set to join a judging panel for theatre talent contest Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, according to reports.

ITV bosses have reportedly tipped Alan the role just weeks after the star teased a defection to the BBC when he signed up to a huge new show over there.

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will see talented hopefuls compete to land the lead roles of Sophie and Sky in a new West End production, based on the Abba-themed film.

The show, which is set to air later this year, will follow a similar format to BBC1 shows, I’d Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.

Alan Carr is reportedly set to get a job judging on huge new reality show (ITV)

Industry stars will mentor the contestants before they are judged by a panel of famous faces.

A grand finale will see two winners picked in a broadcast from a theatre in London.

A TV insider told The Sun : “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.

“It just remains to be seen if Alan and ITV can hammer out a deal because he is very in demand at the moment.”

It comes just weeks after the presenter and comedian had been widely tipped to replace David Walliams on Britain's Got Talent following his decision to step down from the show.

The funnyman is set to join a judging panel for theatre talent contest Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, according to reports (Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Alan has appeared on various BBC shows including Interior Design Matters (BBC/Darlow Smithson Productions/Steve Peskett)

But in a last-minute change to the line-up, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli was announced as the fourth judge to sit alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.

Meanwhile Alan, 46, has wasted no time signing on the dotted line for another new job and is set to become a huge Saturday night name at the BBC.

Insiders claim that the former chat show host is lined up to present the new quiz show, Picture Slam.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "Getting the big-money signing is payback for Alan, who was viewed as a shoo-in as a 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."

Alan had been widely tipped to replace David Walliams on Britain's Got Talent (WireImage)
Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow which aired on ITV was spiked after three years, with TV bosses saying it had been "rested" (BBC/Guy Levy)

The insider went on to say that Alan could be an even bigger name than he would have been should he have joined Britain's Got Talent.

Alan is believed to have "jumped at the chance" of moving over to the BBC after his Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow which aired on ITV was spiked after three years, with TV bosses saying it had been "rested".

The comic's family-friendly game show debuted back in 2020 and won plenty of fans thanks to a nostalgic nod to retro game shows before it like Bullseye and Name That Tune.

The Saturday night show has aired three successful seasons but ITV insiders have told the Mirror Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow won't be back on our screens throughout 2023 and is 'being rested' thanks to broadcaster ITV deciding to show the Rugby World Cup 2023 instead.

The star recently broke his silence about the drama surrounding Britain's Got Talent, explaining: "It was very odd".

He told the Metro: "And then Bruno (got it) and I thought: 'Oh good for him', but it's so weird."

At the time, sources claimed Alan was "devastated" by the snub, adding that bosses had "really missed a trick" by not signing him up.

They said: "He is trying to keep his head up, he thought that he had it. It is really disappointing for him.

"BGT have really missed a trick, especially with the on-screen chemistry between him and Amanda."

In recent years, Alan has appeared on various BBC shows including Interior Design Matters as well as Amanda and Alan's Italian Job with pal Amanda Holden.

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