FAMILY Fortunes star Vernon Kay says he is fed up being asked to front new gameshows - and wants to move into ACTING.
The former T4 presenter, 37, says he has turned down countless offers to host other quizzes because he doesn't want to be pigeon-holed as a light entertainment frontman.

And he would like nothing better than to be in Coronation Street.

Vern declared: "I'd love to be a shop assistant in Dev's shop or a barman, or the cleaner in the pub."

The proud Boltonian - who also has a show on Radio 1 - even pulled out of ITV1's recent Saturday night show Sing If You Can.

Now Vernon says he wants to try new things like factual shows and acting.

He said: "I get offered loads of gameshows, but I host Family Fortunes - why would I want to do another one? Is there a gameshow out there that is better than ITV's Family Fortunes? I think not.

"I want to go out there and spread my wings. I just want to do more stuff that is not in the genre of light entertainment gameshows.

"I'd like to do stuff where I go out and meet people, talk about an issue, or something like that. Or maybe just be a captain on a panel show.

"I just want to put more stuff on my CV that isn't light entertainment.

"I love doing Family Fortunes and Radio 1, but there's nothing to say I can't go out and produce more or do a bit of acting. I would definitely be up for doing some acting, as long as the role was right.

"I did speak to a guy on Coronation Street a couple of years ago and he had this character lined up. Nothing came out of that, but I would be up for doing it now.

"Corrie has a real subtle undertone of comedy and that is what I have been brought up around."

He recently ended his exclusive deal with ITV so he could work on other channels - and potentially with his wife Tess Daly on Strictly Come Dancing when Bruce Forsyth retires. But he said he wouldn't want to step directly into Brucie's shoes - and would prefer Tess's job.

Vern said: "I would much prefer the backstage role on Strictly because Tess gets to ask questions off the top of her head and have a bit of banter.


"To me that is more satisfying than saying, 'here's what's next'."
The new series of Family Fortunes, which launches this weekend, will see episodes extended to an hour long - and it will again get the prime pre-X Factor slot.

It also means Vern will go head-to-head with Tess when Strictly returns next month.

Despite the mainstream image, he says he is proud of hosting such an iconic show - and All Star Family Fortunes on which Corrie actor Simon Gregson has appeared.

Vern recently fronted several shows in the US, including Dancing on Ice-style series Skating with the Stars, but says he has no major ambitions Stateside.


He said he wished fellow former T4 host Steve Jones well on the US X Factor - and wasn't jealous of him being on such a huge show.
Vern added: "I want to do a show that enables me to get the best out of myself.

"Often on the big shows, all you do is read an autocue. I like to do more than that."