AFTER weeks of negotiations, ITV has finally struck a deal for the third celebrity judge on its upcoming Stars In Their Eyes reboot.
I can exclusively reveal that Beverley Knight has signed up to the reworking of the Nineties telly fave, which will go by the name Starstruck.
The soul singer will sit on the panel alongside Sheridan Smith and Adam Lambert as they judge groups of contestants on their skills of impersonation.
A TV insider said: “Beverley is a huge signing for Starstruck and everyone working on the show is so glad she’s taking part.
“There were a number of big music names on ITV’s wish list, including Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, but after approaching Beverley they snapped her up after seeing her enthusiasm for the concept.
“She is not only a big name singer but she’s a musical performer and has been in a number of big West End shows including The Bodyguard, Cats and Memphis.
“Her experience makes her ideal for judging members of the public who are transforming into their favourite stars.”
The Sun first revealed how ITV was putting together the reboot in March last year, and the new concept sounds brilliant.
This time around, each episode will see four teams of three battle it out to win the judges’ votes.
Each of the teams will be impersonating their musical icon.
Members of the winning group will then compete against each other as solo acts for a place in the final.
And if performing as your musical hero on TV isn’t enough, the acts who make it to the final could scoop £50,000.
That’s not too shabby all things considered.
I’m a big fan of Lighthouse Family.
Anyone fancy teaming up?
Carr and Co. set the seen
I’M not sure what the I Can See Your Voice panel have just witnessed in this first look at the BBC’s new Saturday night extravaganza – but judging by Jimmy Carr's face, it can’t be good.
The comedian is joined by Amanda Holden and This Morning’s Alison Hammond on the show, which is set to get the nation guessing just like they did while watching The Masked Singer.
Hosted by Paddy McGuinness, I Can See Your Voice challenges contestants to examine a line-up of alleged performers and decide who can and can’t sing in order to bag a cash prize.
It debuts this spring.
Contestants will be aided by Amanda, Alison and Jimmy, as well as guest judges including X Factor runner-up Fleur East.
I’ll wager some of these voices will leave them speechless.
Fright manager
TOM Hiddleston looks like he’s playing a slippery customer in sea monster project The Essex Serpent.
The Night Manager hunk was snapped manhandling co-star Claire Danes while filming a scene in Essex as Victorian vicar William Ransom for the Apple+ adaptation of Sarah Perry’s hit novel.
TV first?
THE first ever in-game catfish confession could be about to take place on The Circle.
On tonight’s episode, former Gladiator James considers revealing that he is not an NHS nurse called Gemma after all.
Two new players will also join the Channel 4 show.
Dr Who delayed it's a sin
FORMER Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed his passion project It’s A Sin could have been made a decade earlier were it not for his commitment to the Time Lord.
The super producer, who was responsible for rebooting the sci-fi classic in 2005 after 16 years off air, said: “My whole career got sidelined for ten years by Doctor Who.
"If it wasn’t for that we’d be doing It’s A Sin ten years earlier.”
It’s A Sin took a heartbreaking look at the Aids epidemic and notched up a record 6.5 million views when it hit Channel 4’s All 4 streaming service in January.
After the delay in bringing it to the screen, Russell confessed he expected the show to flop.
He told Aids research foundation amfAR: “Over Christmas we were going, ‘Oh my God, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and here we are launching a drama about a virus.’
"I thought it was the death knell. Its success has been an enormous surprise.”
Covid woes
INDUSTRY, W1A and Broadchurch actress Sarah Parish feared Covid would destroy her 28-year telly career.
She said: “When we first hit lockdown I got pulled off a job
"The first few weeks were quite fun and then it started to dawn on me we might never work again.”
Page joy at gong for Duke
BRIDGERTON star Rege-Jean Page has landed his first major award for playing the Duke of Hastings.
He won Outstanding Actor In a Drama Series at the NAACP Image Awards, which celebrate excellence in entertainment by ethnic minorities.
Rege said: “It is the highest honour to represent us in the fullness of our humanity, of our beauty, our glamour, our royalty . . . I will do my absolute best to be worthy of that.”
Asked what he’d learnt from Bridgerton, he said: “Smile more, talk it out, use your words, hug people more.”
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