Celebrity Traitors star Alan Carr has become one of the most talked about stars on TV thanks to his stint as a Traitor on the popular BBC One gameshow.
Now, he’s set for even more attention as it’s been revealed that the ITV star, who has his own sitcom, Changing Ends, on the channel has been ‘poached’ by the BBC for a new format.
Alan, 49, is said to have been jetted off abroad for a new prime-time quiz show series which features celebrity guests, according to The Sun.
It comes after rumours stirred that the comedian was being lined up for a new TV deal, eight years after Chatty Man, his Channel 4 chat show, came to an end.
The bumper deal would put Alan head-to-head with Celebrity Traitors co-star Jonathan Ross, who is said to have recently signed a contract to continue working with ITV on his talk show, The Jonathan Ross Show.
A source told the publication: ‘Unquestionably, Alan is the hottest man on TV right now. Everyone wants a piece of him. But the BBC have acted quickly and last week he was jetted out to a swanky European city for a day of filming a pilot.
Celebrity Traitors star Alan Carr is set for even more attention as it’s been revealed that the star has been ‘poached’ by the BBC for a new format
Alan has his own sitcom, Changing Ends, on ITV
‘It went well and now it’s just a matter of when, not if, this gets green-lit.
‘There is also talk of bringing back a version of Chatty Man, as Alan has incredible contacts and would get some brilliant guests.’
There have been no details released as to the nature of the new game show, or when fans can expect it to hit screens on the BBC.
It will follow on from the comedian taking a starring role in the final of Celebrity Traitors this week, which the BBC is said to be expecting ’15 million’ fans to tune into.
Alan and his fellow Traitor, singer Cat Burns, are yet to have been caught by the Faithful, rugby star Joe Marler, actor Nick Mohammed and historian David Olusoga.
But after a tense roundtable last week saw Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway given the boot, sportsman Joe, 35, is hot on the trail of the pair.
Since his first appearance on the series last month, telly fans have made it no secret they can’t get enough of Alan – who also has a new series of his sitcom Changing Ends due for release at the end of November.
The semi-autobiographical series, which has so far run for two seasons on ITV, proved itself a big hit with viewers – with show star Oliver Savell, who plays a young Alan, nominated for a BAFTA after its second season.
The new format will follow on from the comedian taking a starring role in the final of Celebrity Traitors this week, which the BBC is said to be expecting ’15 million’ fans to tune into
Changing Ends was watched and streamed by over 13 million people and became the broadcaster’s most watched comedy after season two aired back in July 2024
The hit comedy was watched and streamed by over 13 million people and became the broadcaster’s most watched comedy after season two aired back in July 2024.
After news broke of its renewal, Alan told The Sun: ‘To get your own sitcom recommissioned for a series is the most wonderful news ever, but to have two series recommissioned is utterly mind-blowing and such a huge compliment, which I do not take lightly.
‘I know how much this show has resonated with viewers and I promise I won’t let you down — and for someone whose actual life at times feels like a sitcom, believe me there are more tales to be told.’
He joked: ‘My dream of Changing Ends becoming Northampton’s answer to The Crown is two steps closer to being a reality.’
The synopsis for the new season teases: ‘Head to 80s Northampton to enjoy tales from the Chatty Man’s youth. Follow him as he hurtles towards puberty – things are going to get awkward!’
The younger version of Alan is played by Oliver, 16, and he’s joined on screen by the likes of Shaun Dooley and Nancy Sullivan.
The series will be produced once again by Baby Cow Productions who are also the makers of Gavin & Stacey and Alan Partridge.
Speaking previously about his hopes for a new series, Alan said: ‘I would love to do a third series of Changing Ends, every time I see Ollie he has shot up so I don’t think we can get away with making him 12 anymore.
The younger version of Alan is played by Oliver Savell
Fans will soon get to tune in to see if Alan makes it to the end of Celebrity Traitors on Thursday night – as the series comes to a dramatic end
‘We would have to jump in time to him being 14 or 15 which would bring us to late eighties and early nineties, which as you can imagine opens a whole load of comedic possibilities for us.’
Meanwhile, fans will soon get to tune in to see if Alan makes it to the end of Celebrity Traitors on Thursday night – as the series comes to a dramatic end.
While the comedian had long gone undetected, Joe Marler set his sights on him at the end of last week’s episodes telling Nick, 45, and David, 55, that Alan and Cat, 25, were Traitors.
The final five were gathered around the fire pit by Claudia, 53, who asked them to pledge their faithfulness to each other by looking at each other in the eyes and repeating, ‘I am a Faithful’.
But things didn’t go well for Alan who, after having a target set on his back, burst out laughing as he attempted to say the phrase.
Joe told the cameras after the fire pit scenes: ‘It’s just another confirmation of what I’m thinking already about Alan.
‘He can’t even look us in the eyes and say “I’m a faithful”. If that’s not a red flag, I don’t know what is.’
The Celebrity Traitors concludes Thursday at 9pm on BBC One and will stream on iPlayer. Changing Ends returns to ITV this month.
