Comedian Alan Carr will replace David Walliams as the new judge on Britain’s Got Talent, the Daily Mail reveals.
The beloved star, 46, best known for his Channel 4 series Alan Carr: Chatty Man, was given the role after reality show bosses decided he would be perfect opposite Simon Cowell, 63, Amanda Holden, from 51, and Alesha Dixon. , 44.
It comes after Walliams, 51, left the ITV show after recordings surfaced of him making vile sexual comments about two contestants during auditions in January 2020.
EXCLUSIVE: Alan Carr is set to replace David Walliams as the new Britain’s Got Talent judge who has resigned after his vile off-camera comments were revealed (pictured at Royal Variety in 2021)
Is turned off! David Walliams RESIGNED from Britain’s Got Talent after 10 years on the judging panel, weeks after he apologized for making vile comments about a contestant.
A source close to the ITV show told the Daily Mail: ‘Alan is funny but also kind. He tells a bad joke but is also soft in the middle.
‘The bosses are already excited about how wonderful it will be with the contestants. He will complement the panel very well too, he is very close to Amanda and he has also known Simon and Alesha for years.
“Everyone involved in the show is very excited and can’t wait to get started.”
New addition: Alan will be joining (Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and Alesha Dixon on the judging panel)
Auditions for the next BGT series begin in two weeks and executives at both ITV and production company Fremantle have been desperately seeking a replacement for Walliams since it was decided he would step down two months ago.
Carr, who is openly gay and split from husband Paul Drayton last August after 13 years of marriage, is close friends with Amanda. Her husband Chris Hughes also represents Cowell.
In November it was reported that Walliams stepped down from his role as judge on the show after ten years, although sources close to the show say he “jumped before he got pushed”.
His exit came after he described an elderly contestant as c*** and made vile sexual comments about a female contestant.
Pals: Amanda and Alan are close friends and are appearing in a new show filmed in Sicily, called The Italian Job, which will soon be broadcast on the BBC.
The comments, first reported by The Sun, were made during auditions in January 2020 at the London Palladium.
In one incident, caught on the show’s microphones, an older performer engaged in a light-hearted banter with the judges in which he made fun of Walliams.
After the audition, the retiree left, after which Walliams is said to have described him as a ‘c**t’ three times.
In a separate incident, after a contestant walked off stage, Walliams commented, “She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub who thinks you want to fuck her but you don’t.” She later she added: ‘I know, she’s like: “Oh, fuck you!” She was saying that she thinks you want to fuck her, but you don’t.
Shocking: David’s future on BGT was in doubt after he described an elderly contestant as ac*** and made vile sexual comments about a woman also competing on the show.
It’s the last thing on her mind, but she’s like, “Yeah, I bet you are!”
‘No, i do not do it! I had a bit of ab***r, but now it’s gone, now it’s wrinkled inside my body.
Walliams, one of the UK’s best-known television personalities and children’s book author, was forced to apologize for his outbursts, but insisted they were private conversations.
Speaking: In a statement, David said: “I would like to apologize to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.”
In a statement, the former Little Britain star said: “I would like to apologize to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.”
“These were private conversations and, like most conversations with friends, they were never intended to be shared. However, I’m sorry.
Bosses considered casting former strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse, 32, for the role, and also approached chat show host Graham Norton, 59, but turned down the opportunity.
Carr is the son of football manager Graham Carr, who has managed teams including Northampton and Blackpool.
Not for him: Graham Norton, 59, was said to have ‘turned down the chance to join Britain’s Got Talent as a judge’
More: Alan and her party planner husband, Paul Drayton, announced their separation in January this year after 13 years together and three years of marriage (pictured in 2019)