Controversial Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox is being lined up as the face of Channel 4 entertainment with a new TFI-style show expected to take Chris Evans' old post-pub Friday slot.
A pilot for the show, which has the working title Born Sloppy, was shot recently in The Roost, a disused pub in Dalston, east London, which featured in the opening sequence of Channel 4's TV version of Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.
Cox, the main presenter of the show, was joined in the pilot by co-host, RI:SE presenter Colin Murray.
Comedian Matt Lucas and Rock Profiles co-creator David Walliams also appeared in the pilot, along with LA Pool Party presenter Lisa Snowdon.
All three may return as regular fixtures on Born Sloppy.
"It's a like a lock-in filmed at Sara Cox's gaff, which is a converted pub," said one source familiar with the show.
"It's a mixture of entertainment and music but it's not a show for hardcore music fans. It's for people who like music but don't necessarily want to wade through a 15-page article in Rolling Stone," the insider added.
"There will also be gags, pre-recorded video inserts and funny stuff from the web that's music related."
The show was filmed on two floors of the converted pub in front of an audience of about 100, with camera operators wandering around between the rooms.
According to sources, the pilot was so well received by the Channel 4 entertainment controller, Danielle Lux, and the head of entertainment, John McHugh, that a 10-part series is already being planned for November.
Channel 4 has not attempted a big live entertainment show on a Friday since TFI Friday was axed at the end of 2000.
Born Sloppy is being made by Evans' former sidekick, Will MacDonald, and his former producer, David Granger, through their new independent production company, Monkey.
Live music in the Born Sloppy pilot was provided by Primal Scream, FC Kahuna and McAlmont and Butler.
Born Sloppy was originally being lined up for Channel 4's Wednesday night 4Music slot at 10.30pm.
But Ms Lux and Mr McHugh are now said to be thinking of running the 60-minute show in a late night Friday slot, probably at 10.30pm.
TFI Friday was broadcast between 6pm and 7pm, with a post-pub repeat later in the evening.
