Nick Grimshaw plots Top of the Pops follow-up as newest TV project
Show will mark his first return to telly since leaving X Factor
NICK GRIMSHAW’s most recent foray into television ended with hatchet man SIMON COWELL not-so-gently nudging him towards the X Factor exit.
But it hasn’t put him off making a name for himself on the box rather than the radio.
I can reveal that the Radio 1 breakfast show host has come up with an idea for what he hopes will be the long-awaited follow-up to Top Of The Pops.
He says he developed the programme because it is “what the country needs” after TOTP was shelved in 2006.
In an exclusive interview, the radio host said: “I’m writing a show with my friend Aimee. We’ve just started writing it. We’re in talks to do a show.
“It’s a music show, it’ll be a show getting music on television.
“It’s what we need so I’m going to make it happen. It’s my mission.”
Last year the Beeb’s director of music Bob Shennan said he was hoping to rebrand and relaunch Top of the Pops but it all went quiet.
The iconic show was a weekly staple on British TV from the Sixties right up until its end ten years ago — historically with Radio 1 DJs presenting.
But it lost its way after a series of relaunches.
A move from BBC1 to BBC2 failed to stop it haemorrhaging viewers and its reputation suffered a devastating blow when the revelations about former host Jimmy Savile broke.
Nick was a front-runner for the TFI Friday job — the only programme in recent years bearing any similarity to TOTP — but decided to turn it down to focus on The X Factor.
It would be a good move for Nick, who faced heaps of criticism both privately from Simon Cowell and publicly from fans.
Eventually he quit, but it was a case of jumping before he was pushed.
He still takes a keen interest in the talent show though and thinks the move to bring back diva SHARON OSBOURNE — which I revealed last month — is a good one.
He said: “I love Sharon, I think she’s made for reality television.
“I liked GARY BARLOW because he was grumpy. But Sharon is my favourite.”
Last year Sharon said Simon suffered from “small penis syndrome” and yet
he still brought her back.
She must be his favourite too...
Related Stories
RUPERT TAKES A SICKIE
THERE were fears for RUPERT GRINT’s health after The Sun revealed pictures of him looking exhausted with what appeared to be two black eyes in March.
His team insisted it was due to working long hours and training hard in the gym.
But at least the actor, known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, can now put the knackered look to good use.
He is starring in Sky Atlantic comedy Sick Note, alongside NICK FROST and Golden Globe winner DON JOHNSON, which will hit screens in early 2017.
Rupert will play Daniel, a compulsive liar in a dead-end job and bad relationship who finds out he has cancer.
Everyone starts to treat him better before he is then told it was a misdiagnosis and has to decide whether to keep lying or go back to his old life.
You can guess which way he goes...
MANUELS GET THE BOOT
GOGGLEBOX’s newest family haven’t had the easiest ride since joining the show.
The Manuels were caught up in a row over a Rangers football mug – which then had to be blurred out for catch-up viewers – and accused of being dull.
Some viewers even thought the family, who live in south London but hail from Glasgow, had such strong Scottish accents they needed subtitles.
Now, having only debuted this series, the family has been dropped.
Mum Donna, dad Charles and son Grant say they are too busy to commit to filming.
But I’m told they didn’t cut the mustard with producers.
A source said: “The Manuels haven’t really worked out. The mug row in their debut episode was unfortunate. The problem with understanding them isn’t ideal either.”
A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said last night: “The Gogglebox cast is ever evolving, with new families regularly joining, old families returning – which keeps the show fresh and interesting.”
Fresh and interesting – something the Manuels, sadly, were not.
SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
PHILIP GLENISTER’s famous Ford Cortina may be heading to Hollywood – as the actor is keen to get Life on Mars on to the big screen.
Philip, who played DCI Gene Hunt, in the popular BBC1 series, says he and co-star JOHN SIMM have discussed the idea.
He said: “Oh, yeah, I’d do it. Yeah, you bet. John and I were talking about it a while ago, and I think he’d be up for it.
“Maybe to do a Life on Mars movie in some form, if we could find an angle – I think we’d be up for that, for sure.”
The show followed Sam Tyler, played by John, a policeman who is hit by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973 working for the Manchester force under DCI Hunt.
It ran for two series and the final episode in 2007 was watched by 7.2million people.
Philip says a reboot could happen, but only on the writers’ say-so.
Talking to Radio Times, he added: “Never say never – but that’s something you’d need to speak to Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham about.
“They’re the writers who created the show and the character.”
SOAPBOX
GEORGE SAMPSON made an appearance during the Britain’s Got Talent final last week and the youngster will once again be hitting our screens in tonight’s hour-long episode of EMMERDALE.
The dancer-turned-actor is reprising his role as Ryan, who was bribed by Robert Sugden to make abuse allegations against Gordon Livesy earlier this year.
Tense scenes will see Liv Flaherty grow so paranoid over a cyberbully that she recruits Ryan for a shock scheme against main suspect Robert.
Will Liv have second thoughts too late?
Over on EASTENDERS, Ian Beale finally hears child psycho Bobby Beale’s fate at the police station.
I wonder if the troublesome schoolboy will be charged.