Harry Hill's TV Burp

[Chris_2k11]

Naughty knitted Ashley Cole hahaha

[alan45]

HARRY Hill has quit his hit show TV Burp after nine years — leaving ITV bosses in turmoil, The Sun can reveal.


The stressed comic turned down a £1MILLION pay-rise which would have taken his salary to £4million.

Dad-of-three Harry, 46, said the Bafta-winning programme's punishing schedule had put his personal life under too much strain.

And he now plans to focus on a new project with Simon Cowell — writing gags for X Factor The Musical.

An ITV source said of TV Burp: "Harry kept telling people how much he hated doing it but they thought he was joking. He wasn't."

In June Harry joked that working on the show had left him "suicidal", adding: "It is a drag. One year I did 21 shows — most series are only eight. At the end of it I was completely mental."

[tammyy2j]

I cant imagine anyone else but Harry on that show

[Perdita]

Harry Hill has denied reports that he is quitting TV Burp.

Using his official blog, the former stand-up comic insisted that nothing had been agreed, while revealing he still enjoys working on the show.

"Still having a lotta fun with TV Burp - still got 16 shows to write! No decision on the future!"

In his previous blog post however, the star said: "Good to see everyone again but we all agreed we have very nearly had enough."

Speculation mounted a fortnight ago upon whether Hill, who is married with three young daughters, had left due to the half-a-year filming commitment to each series.

One report claimed that the 47-year-old had turned down a £1 million pay rise to stay with ITV beyond 2012.

[xcarlyx]

Harry Hill has denied reports that he is quitting TV Burp.

Using his official blog, the former stand-up comic insisted that nothing had been agreed, while revealing he still enjoys working on the show.

"Still having a lotta fun with TV Burp - still got 16 shows to write! No decision on the future!"

In his previous blog post however, the star said: "Good to see everyone again but we all agreed we have very nearly had enough."

Speculation mounted a fortnight ago upon whether Hill, who is married with three young daughters, had left due to the half-a-year filming commitment to each series.

One report claimed that the 47-year-old had turned down a £1 million pay rise to stay with ITV beyond 2012.

Glad that he isn't leaving. Brightens up my saturday night

[Perdita]

Harry Hill has indicated that TV Burp will bow out in March.

In a new blog post, the comedian revealed that the new series' last episode will culminate in a "huge finale".

"The New (and it seems last) series of TV Burp starts up on the 4th Feb and finishes 8 shows later at the end of March in a huge finale - SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT !!!," Hill said.

It is Hill's strongest hint that he is quitting the programme, after insisting in October that "no decision" had been made about its future.

The 47-year-old has previously admitted that working on the show, which has aired over 20 episodes a year since 2008, has left him feeling exhausted.

Reports in December suggested that ITV may replace Hill, with Russell Kane, Lee Mack and Al Murray mentioned as possible candidates.

After splitting with his agent and boss of production company Avalon, speculation has arisen over whether Hill will move TV Burp to the BBC or Sky.

[Perdita]

Harry Hill has reportedly signalled his intention to continue making TV Burp on ITV.

The comedian had previously given strong hints that the satirical clip show would bow out this year after 11 years on the air.

However, a supposed network source has told The Sun that acquaintance and X Factor boss Simon Cowell helped convince Hill to make another series.

"TV Burp is a key part of ITV1's Saturday night schedule - and without it there was a fear that other shows could be hit, like The X Factor," the insider claimed.

"Cowell has a good relationship with Harry since the funnyman is working on The X Factor musical," the source added. "ITV bosses personally asked him to intervene."

The 47-year-old allegedly refused a £1 million payrise at ITV, after saying that the running length of the series - over 20 episodes a year since 2008 - leaves him feeling exhausted.

Hill parted ways with manager and Avalon boss Jon Thoday in December, sparking speculation that the former stand-up could defect to either Sky or the BBC.

Last month, a report indicated that Hill was in talks with Channel 4 for a new sketch show series and movie.

[Perdita]

Harry Hill's TV Burp is airing its final edition this Saturday after 11 years, according to fans who claim they watched the live recording.

Despite a tabloid rumour earlier this week claiming the comedian had changed his mind, a telling picture of the TV Burp cast and crew posing in front of the audience for the last time has emerged on Twitter.

Ex-EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison appears in the shot, as well as TV Burp's version of the much-loved, now-deceased soap character.

Classic TV Burp icon and Big Brother 8 star Brian Belo is also visible in the front row, while recurring puppet Lord Sugar and monstrous wild child Wagbo are both tipped to make final cameos.

Digital Spy forum member ZoeMcCallister posted: "Definitely the last ever one. Just been in the audience. Harry said not to take notice of The Sun rumours.

"Without giving too much away, the final scene is epic for TV Burp diehards and is definite closure for the show. Also, probably the best episode of TV Burp in years. Harry's really put effort into the final one."

Jason100 added in the TV Burp thread: "I was there tonight and there were a few surprises. Not sure about anyone else who went but I felt a bit teary at the end."

Back in January, Hill said that the satirical clip show would bow out with a "huge" finale.

Following his split with his agent from TV Burp producer Avalon, it was reported that Channel 4 had lined up a £2 million deal for a sketch show and film.

The 47-year-old former stand-up, who had rejected a deal with ITV worth a reported extra £1 million, is working on a new sports panel game with Alistair McGowan.

[Perdita]

Harry Hill has revealed that he hoped TV Burp would continue under a new host.

The comedian departed the ITV entertainment show after 11 years in 2012, as he did not enjoy the job as much as he used to.


© PA Images
Micky Flanagan


Hill explained that he had spoken to stand-up comic Micky Flanagan about possibly taking over the reins, but this did not materialise.

"I don't miss it. I probably did it for a couple of years longer than I should have done for my own sanity," he told Heat.

"I do miss watching it, and I was hoping that someone else would take over. I was talking to Micky Flanagan, and I was hoping he would do it.

"It's a lot of work, though. I'm the only mug that would do it."

Hill added that working on TV Burp meant that he had to undergo a rehab of sorts with television, as he needed to watch hours of weekly shows in order to produce the programme.

"I'm detoxing at the moment. I never thought I would be able to watch filler shows like Grand Designs or A Place in the Sun again, but my wife [Magda Archer] likes them, so I'm slowly getting back into them.

"I'll always watch The X Factor, though, and I'm very into Breaking Bad at the moment. It's about a chemistry teacher who goes off the rails and starts making crystal meth.

"I was really keen on chemistry as a kid and it's made me interested again. You heard it here first - I'm going to be a drug dealer."

Harry Hill is currently working on a musical version of The X Factor, which has been given the seal of approval by Simon Cowell.

Speaking about the project, he said: "Two years ago I was watching the final, drunk, and I decided it would be great to do a musical of it. I phoned my friend Steve Brown, who has written musicals before, and told him the idea.

"He didn't sound convinced, but the next day I called up Peter Fincham, who runs ITV, and said, 'How can I get this idea to Simon Cowell?' He was seeing Simon the following day and he called me back the next night and said that Simon was interested. Simon had actually been thinking about doing it himself."

[parkerman]

Interesting to see this thread was started by Richie_lecturer. Whatever happened to him?