Alan Carr has revealed that he has started work on a new TV series with ITV, just days after losing out on being a judge on the network’s talent show Britain’s Got Talent.
The comedian, 46, was reportedly “devastated” to lose the job, which ended up going to Bruno Tonioli after Simon Cowell overruled ITV bosses.
Alan will play himself in the series, called Changing Ends, which is based on his experience growing up as the son of a fourth division football manager in Northampton in the 1980s.
Keep Calm and Carr-y on Alan!: Comedian Alan Carr, 46, revealed his new ITV show days after Britain’s Got Talent was rejected
The comedy series will focus on the life of young Alan and see him deal with the trials and tribulations of puberty, self-discovery and coming out as gay in Thatcher’s Britain.
The six-episode show will initially debut on ITV’s new ITX streaming platform, according to Sun.
Alan co-wrote the series along with Scottish BAFTA and RTS award winner and Two Doors Down writer Simon Carlyle.
Snubbed: ITV chose Bruno Tonioli over Alan to be the new judge, after David Walliams resigned in November
While the Chatty Man host will play himself in the current scenes, young Alan will be played by rising star Oliver Savell.
The Northampton-bred comedy superstar took to Instagram to express her excitement about the project.
He wrote: “And so it begins: the first day of filming my sitcom Changing Ends, based on my life growing up in Northampton.”
“Emotional, nervous, excited, frozen (but probably because of the weather), wish me luck.”
The Changing Extremes: The comedian’s new show is based on his experiences growing up in Northampton in the 1980s as the son of a football referee.
‘Emotional, nervous, excited’: The TV host revealed his emotions towards the project through an Instagram post
His fans will be delighted to know that Alan will be back on our screens soon despite his snub on Britain’s Got Talent last week.
The former Friday Night Project presenter was among two shortlisted to become a judge on the ITV talent show, after previous judge David Walliams withdrew in November.
The role eventually went to Strictly’s Bruno, after Simon Cowell, who is a friend of Bruno’s, overruled the furious decision by ITV bosses to hire Alan.
A source close to the show said: ‘It’s one of the most peculiar events in show business in recent years. They told Alan that he had the job and then suddenly Bruno’s name came up. It’s so strange.
‘Some ITV bosses are angry with the decision, their preference was for Alan, as were most of those involved with the show, who were genuinely delighted at the prospect of joining them for the series. Everyone loved him, but Cowell was against it, he wanted his friend. Tonioli joining BGT means there are now two former Strictly judges on the panel, something ITV bosses are understood to have been against.
It was understood that Alan was “devastated” to lose the job he believed to be his.
The star’s friends said she told them she was joining the show from people close to her two weeks ago.
A real blow: The Chatty Man host was understood to be “devastated” to lose the job he thought was his.
He was allegedly rescheduling his filming commitments on the BBC’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race so he could audition for BGT.
She had even begun to have her clothes arranged on screen, until she saw reports that Toniloi was also in line to fill in for Walliams.
One told the Daily Mail: “He’s trying to hold his head up, he thought he had it.” It’s really disappointing for him. BGT has really missed a trick, especially with the on-screen chemistry between him and Amanda.
Shamed actor and author David Walliams was forced last year to leave the show after ten years after vile comments he made about contestants during auditions in 2020.
It was reported in November that he withdrew from his role, although sources close to the show say he “jumped before he was pushed”.
Out: Shamed actor and author David Walliams, 51, was forced last year to leave the show after ten years after vile comments he made about contestants during auditions in 2020.