Sir Lenny Henry to return to his comedy roots by hosting ITV’s Saturday night show It’s Alive
SIR LENNY HENRY is gearing up for a return to Saturday night telly doing what he does best – comedy.
The funnyman’s last primetime TV hosting job was six years ago, fronting BBC1 series The Magicians, which has since vanished from the schedules.
He then went on to tread the boards in West End show The Comedy Of Errors and more recently starred in hit TV drama Broadchurch.
But Lenny’s new show, It’s Alive, is a studio-based programme featuring sketches, songs and celebrity chats.
A show insider revealed: “Sir Lenny may be known these days as an actor in hard-hitting dramas and Shakespearean plays, but he’ll always be a comedian at heart.
“ITV wants to bring Lenny back to his comic roots in It’s Alive — and from ideas he’s mooted for it with producers, it’s going to have viewers in fits of laughter.
“A pilot of the show will be recorded in front of an audience later this month in the hope it will be turned into a full series to air later this year.
“It’s being tipped to be placed in the primetime Saturday night slot that has been occupied by the likes of ANT AND DEC’s Saturday Night Takeaway, X Factor and The Voice.”
Lenny, who was knighted in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity, was last seen on the box as a rape suspect in the final series of Broadchurch alongside DAVID TENNANT and OLIVIA COLMAN.
It’s Alive will see him return to his comic origins — Lenny won ITV’s New Faces talent show in 1975 with his great impression of STEVIE WONDER.
He went on to star in sitcom The Fosters with NORMAN BEATON and later launched his own sketch series The Lenny Henry Show on the Beeb in 1984.
He also joined the likes of fellow funnymen TOMMY CANNON and BOBBY BALL on stage and teamed up with The Comic Strip, a group of comedians, where he met his ex-wife, DAWN FRENCH.
Aside from presenting Comic Relief, his last studio-based TV comedy show was the one-off 2012 special The One Lenny Henry on BBC1.
At least his new show will be funnier than its likely rival on BBC1 — Casualty.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Sir David on write track
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH is showing no sign of slowing down, yet the 91-year-old says he knows when he will retire.
His show Blue Planet II was the most-watched programme of 2017 and he is keen to keep going but said: “If I can’t walk up and down steps any more, that will stop me.
“I do dread not working, although there are things I can do without running up steps six times – books to be written, things I’ve never got round to. But at the moment it seems to be all right.”
The national treasure also told how he prides himself on writing his own documentary commentary.
Speaking to Radio Times, Sir David, above, said: “I would like to think I would be able to detect when I couldn’t find the right words any more.
“If I think I’m not producing commentary with any freshness, or which is apposite or to the point, I hope I would be able to recognise it before someone else told me.
“I spend a lot of time fiddling with the words. I write a commentary and feel it’s finished then go back over it the next day and find it full of clumsiness.
“If I thought I was turning in substandard work, that would stop me.”
But even he can’t comment on his longevity. Sir David has previously said: “I certainly don’t do exercise. I wouldn’t dare tell you what my diet is – it’s mostly chocolate.”
He must be doing something right.
soapbox
LUKE’S new year gets off to a bad start in CORONATION STREET when he is arrested and charged with assault.
At the police station he admits to the accusation but explains he was provoked by a stream of racist remarks.
Later, the mechanic is shocked after disturbing a break-in at the garage.
Elsewhere on the cobbles, Beth nurses a fractured arm and Sinead admits she’s not sure how much more she can take of Chesney’s erratic behaviour.
Over in HOLLYOAKS, Grace receives an ultimatum from Glenn as he asks her to choose between him and the criminal world.
And Diane ropes in local residents to help with her fundraising mission to save the school library.
Alex under weather
GOOD Morning Britain weatherman ALEX BERESFORD may not appear in Sunday’s Dancing On Ice opener after being struck down with flu.
The ITV presenter was absent from yesterday’s rehearsals, with a source saying: “Alex had to miss them because of his illness.
“He’s worried he won’t be well enough for Sunday but is hopeful he’ll get better. His training was going really well up until the Christmas break so he’s gutted to be out of action.”
He should have seen that cold front coming.
COACH TO LOVE ISLAND
AFTER the success of Love Island last summer, E4’s Coach Trip: Road to Tenerife is set to follow in its footsteps.
Tour Guide BRENDAN SHEERIN said: “There’s more love blossoming this series than any other. It must be the route we’re taking.
“It’s all that Iberian warmth and prancing around in your bikini and your shorts what does it.”
must watch
WHAT? 20 Kids and Counting, Channel 4, 9pm.
WHY? This docu follows Britain’s biggest family, the Radfords, as couple Sue and Noel prepare for the arrival of their 20th baby . . . and take a family trip to Florida.
New love for Nikki
AS forensic pathologist Nikki Alexander in BBC1’s Silent Witness, EMILIA FOX is used to dealing with murderers.
But now she’s going in for the kill herself – with a new love interest.
The actress, who returns as Nikki on Monday at 9pm, said: “She begins a relationship with US ambassador Matt Garcia, who is played by MICHAEL LANDES. It was lovely to play Nikki having something to smile about.”
Unlucky-in-love Emilia split from chef MARCO PIERRE WHITE in 2016. Maybe Nikki can teach her a thing or two . . .
Bizbit
FORMER Blue Peter presenter HELEN SKELTON is known for adventurous exploits and on Wednesday, she tries pole dancing in a two-part ITV Tonight special.
New Year? New You? is on at 8pm.