Perdita
23-05-2009, 07:10
LOUIS Walsh is making a Jeremy Beadle-style hidden camera show — dressed as an old codger, The Sun can reveal.
The X Factor judge, 56, underwent hours of prosthetic make-up so he could pull pranks on showbiz pals including Shayne Ward.
Transformation ... Louis in make-up chair
He filmed the pilot this week — and ITV bosses are so impressed they plan to screen it after the first episode of the new X Factor series in August.
The first stunt sees 2005 X Factor winner Shayne picked up by a chauffeur — who apologises for bringing his “grandad” along for the ride.
As the grumpy, mustachioed OAP Louis then stuns Shayne, 24, by demanding the car be stopped so he can have a wee against a wall.
Louis said last night: “It was such great fun — Shayne didn’t know what had hit him!”
The music guru, who manages Shayne’s career in real life, then dons the wrinkles again to hoax boyband JLS.
The show, to be called Anonymous, also features pranks by other stars — but not all of them go so smoothly.
Ex-rugby ace Matt Dawson, 36, tried to hoax fellow player Austin Healey, 35.
A source said: “Matt was trying to get Austin to take part in Scrum: The Musical.
“When Austin found out that it was just a set-up, he had a bit of a sense of humour failure.
“He felt it made him look like a bit of a fool.”
Meanwhile actress Jenny McAlpine, 24, who plays Fiz in Corrie, had a laugh setting up her dad for the show.
If the pilot rates well, ITV1 bosses are ready to order a full series.
It follows in the footsteps of the late Jeremy Beadle, who set up hundreds of unsuspecting people on Beadle’s About.
The Sun
The X Factor judge, 56, underwent hours of prosthetic make-up so he could pull pranks on showbiz pals including Shayne Ward.
Transformation ... Louis in make-up chair
He filmed the pilot this week — and ITV bosses are so impressed they plan to screen it after the first episode of the new X Factor series in August.
The first stunt sees 2005 X Factor winner Shayne picked up by a chauffeur — who apologises for bringing his “grandad” along for the ride.
As the grumpy, mustachioed OAP Louis then stuns Shayne, 24, by demanding the car be stopped so he can have a wee against a wall.
Louis said last night: “It was such great fun — Shayne didn’t know what had hit him!”
The music guru, who manages Shayne’s career in real life, then dons the wrinkles again to hoax boyband JLS.
The show, to be called Anonymous, also features pranks by other stars — but not all of them go so smoothly.
Ex-rugby ace Matt Dawson, 36, tried to hoax fellow player Austin Healey, 35.
A source said: “Matt was trying to get Austin to take part in Scrum: The Musical.
“When Austin found out that it was just a set-up, he had a bit of a sense of humour failure.
“He felt it made him look like a bit of a fool.”
Meanwhile actress Jenny McAlpine, 24, who plays Fiz in Corrie, had a laugh setting up her dad for the show.
If the pilot rates well, ITV1 bosses are ready to order a full series.
It follows in the footsteps of the late Jeremy Beadle, who set up hundreds of unsuspecting people on Beadle’s About.
The Sun