McCall, Kay 'battle for O'Grady chatshow'

[Perdita]

Davina McCall and Vernon Kay will reportedly battle it out to take over Paul O'Grady's Channel 4 show.

According to The Mirror, both presenters have been lined up for 'live auditions' along with Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp.

Reports claim that up to ten stars have been approached by bosses to host the show one week at a time. Whoever appeals the most will then go on to become a permanent replacement for O'Grady.

"We have been inundated," an insider is quoted as saying. "The teatime slot is a real favourite because it means they can be on telly every day but there is less pressure than with a primetime show.

"We plan to have eight to ten presenters for a week each in spring. Then we'll decide whether to give the gig to one or carry on with rotating names. It's a bit like staging live auditions.

"People are desperate to get involved - having a chatshow is the Holy Grail for lots of these presenters."

DS


I don't really like any of them but would prefer Vernon Kay over the others, please, no Davina McCall :thumbsdow Can't stand her

[Abigail]

They'd be wise not to go with Davina after her last chat show. She's terrible and very annoying :wall:

[Katy]

They'd be wise not to go with Davina after her last chat show. She's terrible and very annoying :wall:

I agree, that was shocking!

I think Vernon Kay would be brilant.

[Perdita]

Fern Britton is being lined up to make a sensational primetime TV comeback by taking over Paul O’Grady’s daytime chat show.

The former This Morning presenter is understood to be in advanced talks with Channel 4 bosses who think she would be the ideal host for the popular teatime programme.

Fern, 52, is believed to be on the verge of signing a £1million, two-year deal with the network.

A source said: “Fern is considered to be the absolutely perfect replacement for Paul.

“The viewers love her because she is so bubbly and charismatic.

“And, just like her predecessor, she isn’t reliant on the Autocue.

“She has a gentle, off-the-cuff humour, which is perfect for teatime television, and has a proven background.

“The main stumbling block is time. Five days a week requires a lot of commitment and Fern was initially quite hesitant about the move.

“But those closest to her will support whatever she decides to do.

“If the deal goes through as planned, Fern is expected to make her debut in late spring.”

News of the possible return to daytime TV comes six months after she ended her 10-year stint on This Morning.

During her emotional final show, the celebrities who paid tributes to her included Lionel Richie, Barbara Windsor, Johnny Vegas and Ricky Gervais.

Fern, who is married to TV chef Phil Vickery, has spent time with family since quitting the show as well as presenting All Star Mr and Mrs with Phillip Schofield.

Last month she pulled off the biggest coup of her career. She secured an interview with Tony Blair for BBC show Fern Britton Meets.

During the chat, the ex-Prime Minister admitted he would have continued with plans to join the 2003 invasion of Iraq even if he had known there were no weapons of mass destruction.

O’Grady, 54, had been in negotiations to re-sign with Channel 4 but quit when the broadcaster warned that his show’s budget would be cut by more than half.

The charismatic Liverpudlian host, who had fronted his Bafta award-winning programme for five years, is now preparing to return to ITV1 this autumn to present a Friday night show.

O’Grady, who had previously performed as his drag alter ego Lily Savage, said: “It’s been an amazing five years. It is going to be strange to walk away.

“The team have become a bit of a family and we will all miss the craziness.”

Mirror

[Chloe O'brien]

I agree, that was shocking!

I think Vernon Kay would be brilant.

I agree I love Vernon.