SIMON COWELL must be going barking mad – he’s considering making a Britain’s Got Talent spin-off show dedicated to pets.
I can reveal the ITV1 show’s boss is keen on animals being the focus of his next BGT special, following last month’s one-off episode featuring magicians.
Simon has never hidden the fact that animals — and dogs in particular — are his favourite type of performer and he’s also previously revealed his dream act would be a dog that could talk.
So pet owners striving for a career in showbiz had better get practising.
A TV source said: “Simon has long been a fan of the animal acts on Britain’s Got Talent so nobody was surprised when the notion of a furry friends special was raised.
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"Ultimate Magician proved there’s an appetite for these spectacular showcases, so why not? There’s a couple of ideas on the table but the animals are leading the way at the moment.”
Simon is keen to expand the BGT franchise to keep it fresh after 16 years on our screens. His judging line-up for the upcoming main series has been tweaked for the first time in nine series.
As I revealed on yesterday, former Strictly Come Dancing favourite Bruno Tonioli will be replacing David Walliams on the panel.
The Italian’s former co-star on Strictly, Craig Revel Horwood, was quizzed on Good Morning Britain yesterday about his pal’s new job, and he said his return to our screens would be more than welcome.
He added: “I would love to see Bruno back on our screens and I think it’s a great position to have so I wish him all the very best if he is in the running for it.
“I think he’d be wonderful to get that energy back on the telly.”
Bruno would be the perfect judge for any BGT animals special. He’s like an excited puppy at the best of times.
BONNIE’S ENDERS SECRETS
BONNIE Langford's time on EastEnders sounds like it was as eventful behind the scenes as it was on screen.
The veteran entertainer, who played Carmel Kazemi in the BBC1 soap from 2015 to 2018, reckons she has enough material to create a show in the mould of W1A, the mockumentary that pokes fun at BBC management.
Bonnie, whose on-screen sons included Kush, played by Davood Ghadami, said: “People watching it would say, ‘That is ridiculous, that doesn’t happen.’ But it does.
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“Make-up or costume might go up to somebody and say, ‘I’m so glad I’m doing your last block.’ They then go, ‘What? You mean I’m not in it any more?’ And they go, ‘Oh, did you not know?’.”
Bonnie also said the soap was so frantic that actors hid bits of their scripts behind cushions and drawers on the set for last-minute learning.
JAMES AT CLOWNS SCHOOL
HAPPY Valley villain James Norton is spending his spare time trying to be . . . a CLOWN.
The actor, who plays killer Tommy Lee Royce in the BBC1 Sunday-night drama, has taken up lessons to help his performance skills and even roped in fiancée Imogen Poots.
James explained: “Part of it is stripping everything away and being as honest and vulnerable as you possibly can be.
“You’ll stand there and try to make people laugh and they’ll just be like, ‘No, it’s not funny. Get off stage’.
“And you get weaker and more lost and vulnerable and wretched, and at your absolute lowest, everyone starts to laugh. And that’s your clown. It’s like therapy.”
I’ll stick to writing in to Dear Deirdre.
SANDRO SET FOR LOZZA
SANDRO FARMHOUSE was a fan favourite during The Great British Bake Off’s last series.
But that owed just as much to his muscles and leather trousers as it did the kitchen skills.
Admirers will be pleased to know he has got his own series – thanks to Lorraine Kelly.
Starting on February 1, a four-parter called Feel Good Cooking With Sandro will be seen on ITV1’s Lorraine.
He will entice viewers with feelgood recipes, tips to get the perfect bake . . . and how to make it a moment of “mindfulness and reflection”.
Sandro, who was a runner-up in the 2022 series, said: “Lorraine was such a big supporter when I was on The Great British Bake Off and she has championed me ever since.”
I bet she has.
CORRIE’S ALEX: I’D RETURN
FORMER Coronation Street actress Alexandra Mardell says she is open to a return to the Cobbles, nine months after leaving.
The Strictly Christmas Special winner, who played Emma Brooker, made her debut in new ITV1 comedy The Family Pile this week as fun-loving Gaynor.
But given her Corrie character wasn’t killed off, a return can’t be ruled out.
She said on Loose Women: “It’s lovely to know that the door’s always open. She’s only in Australia, so you never know.”
Alexandra added: “I had the best time on Corrie and was there for four years. But I just wanted to try to play some other characters.
“Luckily with Gaynor, she was the complete opposite of what Emma was like, so that was nice – to do something completely different.”
JOEY SAYS KNICKERS TO PANTS
JOEY ESSEX has worn everything from a Lycra jumpsuit to tiny Speedos in the name of reality telly.
But it seems even the Towie jokester has his limits for Dancing On Ice outfits.
After wearing a sparkly, see-through shirt on Sunday night’s show, Joey told me: “I said to them, I’m up for anything. You can dress me up as Donald Duck, whatever you want to do.
“Like I’m up for the jokes, I’m up for the Lycra, I’m up for the sparkles, funny costumes, whatever. But if I’ve got a stand in a skimpy little tiny pair of pants, or anything like that, I wouldn’t like that.”
And just think of the fake- tan bill, too.
