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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daniel Bird

Alan Carr lands 'payback' deal with BBC quiz show after Britain's Got Talent snub

Alan Carr may have been snubbed by ITV at the last minute but the chatty man appears to have landed a new job.

It comes just weeks after the presenter and comedian had been widely tipped to replace David Walliams on Britain's Got Talent following his decision to step down from the show.

But in a last-minute change to the line-up, former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli was announced as the fourth judge to sit alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.

Alan, 46, has wasted no time signing on the dotted line for a new job and is set to become a huge Saturday night name at the BBC.

Alan Carr is rumoured to have signed a deal with the BBC (BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy)
The star is set to present a new game show on the BBC and become a major Saturday night name (BBC/Guy Levy)

Insiders claim that the former chat show host is lined up to present the new quiz show, Picture Slam.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "Getting the big-money signing is payback for Alan, who was viewed as a shoo-in as a replacement for the exiting David Walliams as BGT judge.

"It was a slight to be in the running for the position for months only to be knocked out of the race at the last minute - particularly as Bruno shot to fame on a BBC show."

The insider went on to say that Alan could be an even bigger name than he would have been should he have joined Britain's Got Talent.

Alan is believed to have "jumped at the chance" of moving over to the BBC after his Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow which aired on ITV was spiked after three years, with TV bosses saying it had been "rested".

Alan is no stranger to gameshows (ITV)

The star recently broke his silence about the drama surrounding Britain's Got Talent, explaining: "It was very odd".

He told the Metro: "And then Bruno (got it) and I thought: 'Oh good for him', but it's so weird."

At the time, sources claimed Alan was "devastated" by the snub, adding that bosses had "really missed a trick" by not signing him up.

They said: "He is trying to keep his head up, he thought that he had it. It is really disappointing for him.

"BGT have really missed a trick, especially with the on-screen chemistry between him and Amanda."

In recent years, Alan has appeared on various BBC shows including Interior Design Matters as well as Amanda and Alan's Italian Job with pal Amanda Holden.

The Mirror approached representatives for the BBC and Alan Carr.

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