Pop heartthrob Howard Donald from Take That to host new Channel 4 motoring show
TAKE That hunk Howard Donald is relaunching himself as a TV presenter, fronting a new motoring show for Channel 4.
The pop heartthrob, 50, will host Mission Ignition alongside racing supremo Dario Franchitti, 45, in a four-part series of 60 minute episodes.
In each show two classic cars will be turned into a giant jigsaw puzzle with Franchitti and Donald, who will then work with a team of amateur car enthusiasts battling it out to put their car back together and race it.
The first team to rebuild the car, from a puzzle of pieces, will be allowed to keep it.
Self-confessed petrol head Howard used to work as a panel beater and vehicle sprayer before he joined Take That 1989.
He has also raced cars himself at Le Mans and Silverstone in motors including the Porsche 911 GT2 and an Austin A30.
He said: “I’ve always loved classic cars, so the opportunity to be involved in Mission Ignition and see these historic cars rebuilt is fantastic.”
And bosses hope the star signing will help attract a wide-ranging audience to the new show.
A Channel 4 source said: “Producers know that it’s a real coup to get a big name like Howard on board and it will attract a lot of new viewers who might not usually be drawn to car shows.
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“Along with the tension and drama of the build, Mission Ignition will also take a nostalgic journey through the history of the cars celebrating the ingenuity of these fantastic machines.
“Howard is chuffed to be involved because it for him it’s a genuine passion project.”
The star is still expected to hook up with his Take That bandmates next year for the group’s 25th anniversary.
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