Ant and Dec’s Street Car Showdown eliminated by BBC ahead of episode
It was the new show that was to propel Ant and Dec into another realm of television – and give the Geordie duo something of a homecoming on the BBC.
But I can confirm that the couple’s car show, Street Car Showdown, won’t turn into a full series after a driver is created.
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The joint venture between Britain’s Got Talent host company Miter Television and Studio Lambert was to be screened on BBC2.
He challenged two teams of competing competitors to turn used vehicles into race cars in just ten days on a low budget.
A TV insider said, “It was a bit of a passionate project for Ant and Dec, as they had been interested in ‘car modders’ since they were young.
“As sponsors of the show, they would also have returned to the Beeb, more than 30 years after appearing on BBC1’s Byker Grove and meeting them.
“They couldn’t actually appear on the show due to their contractual obligations with ITV, but they were the show’s creative consultants.
“But after a pilot was made in 2019 – right after the project was announced – a decision was made not to turn it into a full series.”
Ant and Dec, who also host Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity. . . Get Me Out Of Here !, said they got the idea to showcase the “passion, talent and creativity” of car fanatics.
The presenters added, “We’ve been fascinated by this world ever since we were teenagers in the North East and experienced auto modders gathered on the Roker waterfront in Sunderland to show off their creations.”
As the pilot was announced, Studio Lambert General Manager Stephen Lambert added, “We were thrilled when Miter asked us to work with them to develop the fun and adrenaline-fueled idea of Ant and Dec and produce it with them.
Fortunately, the guys are still basking in the glory of winning their 20th Best Presenter gong at the National Television Awards this month.
Also, they just confirmed my exclusivity that they are launching a major new game show on Saturday night, ITV’s Limitless Win.
I think that should provide great consolation.
CHRIS IS COOL ON THE CASTLE
THE stars lined up for I’m A Celeb this year are no doubt excited to visit Gwrych Castle in North Wales.
But 2007 champion Christopher Biggins, who won in the Australian jungle, is not impressed.
He said of the post-Covid venue: “There was too much space. The closed thing creates a lot of problems. People react to it strangely.
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Christopher, speaking in the latest edition of his Show And Tell podcast, revealed that he lost one of his greatest memories of his time in the jungle – his cork hat.
He said: “This nice hat was stolen from me, which makes me very sad. Someone from the production team must have stolen it.
After two weeks of sweating in the tropical jungle I’m not sure they would have been so desperate to pinch him.
APPLE TV BANKING ON HANKS
APPLE TV + has released a new trailer for its new sci-fi release Finch, which stars TOM HANKS.
The film, which debuts in the world on November 5, is based on the lone survivor of a cataclysmic solar event struggling to ensure his companion dog will be cared for when he’s gone.
LUCY IS FALLON IN LOVE
Preston North End FANS don’t need to see Ryan Ledson play to know the midfielder is fast.
After just four months of dating, he moved former Coronation Street star Lucy Fallon to his massive mansion.
Lucy and the footballer moved fairly quickly, wasting no time in becoming “Instagram officials” with their relationship when they posted pictures of them together.
Lucy played Bethany Platt on Coronation Street from 2015-2020.
The couple met through Ryan’s North End teammate Scott Sinclair, the fiancé of Lucy’s co-star in Corrie’s co-star Helen Flanagan.
Who says soap stars always end up with footballers? . .
MIRIAM IN FERN MIX-UP
GRAHAM Norton should have predicted Fearne Cotton what to expect when she invited eccentric actress Miriam Margolyes to her Happy Place podcast.
Graham is well aware of her unpredictability after interviewing her before, but Fearne got more than she bargained for when Miriam asked, “Were you fat?”
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She politely replied, “No, no. I had a lot of eating disorders growing up, but I was never grown up.
They finally found out why Miriam had asked the question – she had confused it with Fern Britton.
I don’t think any of the women come out of this exchange unscathed.
FLECHEE DE PAUL PASTRY TART
PAUL Hollywood doesn’t do much to shake off his middle-aged pin-up image in The Great British Bake Off.
The master baker donned a mule wig to pose as American country rocker Billy Ray Cyrus, right, in the opening sequence for the new Channel 4 series, which begins tonight.
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Fellow judge Prue Leith and presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas are members of his backing band as he delivers his version of Cyrus’ 1992 hit Achy Breaky Heart.
He sings, “Don’t bake my pie, my puff pie.
What a stupid Billy.
