BBC ‘steals Alan Carr from ITV to host quiz show’

The BBC has reportedly stolen Alan Carr from ITV for its new Saturday night TV lineup.

It comes just weeks after the 46-year-old presenter and comedian was reportedly tipped to replace David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent, but in a last-minute change they chose Strictly’s Bruno Tonioli instead.

And now Alan wasted no time in signing a deal with the BBC to host his new quiz show Picture Slam, reports Sun.

It comes as Claudia Winkleman has gone the other way, from the BBC to ITV, to join Ant and Dec in Saturday Night Takeaway, which returns at the end of this month.

A TV insider told Alan’s publication: ‘Getting the big money firm is payback for Alan, who was seen as a safe replacement for the outgoing David Walliams as BGT judge.

“It was a slight to be competing for the position for months and to be knocked out of the race at the last minute, especially when Bruno rose to fame on a BBC show.

“Now Alan could be an even bigger star on Saturday night TV than he could have been had he gotten the part on the BGT panel.”

For the past three years, Alan has presented Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow for ITV on Saturday nights and now ITV bosses have said the show will not return this year.

Alan, the BBC and ITV have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

Alan was reportedly “devastated” to lose the Britain’s Got Talent job last month.

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.

They all 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.

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”.

Elsewhere, Claudia will join SNT with Ant and Dec later this month.

The ITV1 staple will be back in the box next week, on Saturday 25th February at 7pm, after almost a year off the air.

The boys will bring home viewers and live studio audiences a host of new and exclusive features, live surprises, celebrity guests, returning favorites and outrageous stunts.

Some of the UK’s biggest celebrities will be performing this year, with Joe Wicks and Claudia starring in hilarious new editions of I’m a Celebrity…Get Out of My Ear!

Alison Hammond and Rylan Clarke will be the next unwitting victims of their own Undercovers.

Viewer favorites are back, including Ring My Bell, Singalong Live and Win the Ads, and there are some brilliant End of the Show shows planned throughout the series that, as always, will surprise and entertain.

Ant & Dec will also have a new big audience draw for 2023 and it will all be revealed live on the first show!

They also have a new miniseries for 2023 which is a mystery called Murder At Bigwig Manor.

Richard Wilson plays the ITV boss with cameos including Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Dermot O’Leary, Keith Lemon, AJ Odudu, Judi Love and Stephanie Cole.

Stephen Mulhern, Fleur East, Jordan North and Andi Peters return with Stephen putting the guys through a new set of high-octane Ant vs Dec challenges.