LEGENDARY funnyman Jasper Carrott is being lined up for a TV comeback.
Taskmaster creator and co-host Alex Horne says the Brummie comic is on his hit-list of “old-school” comics he wants to sign up for the show.
Jasper still performs stand-up but keeps his work relatively low-key, favouring one-off regional dates rather than huge nationwide tours like in his eighties and nineties heyday.
But Alex is keen to bring him back to mainstream TV by offering a slot as one of the five comedians on a future series of his award-winning show.
And Alex has his eye on another big name from the past, too.
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He said: “There are a few old-school people who I’d love to have, like Jasper Carrott.
“He’s not chasing things [career-wise], but I think Joe Pasquale would do it and I think he would be great.”
Speaking on the Always Be Comedy podcast, he added: “But it’s a big conversation, because if you’re having Pasquale, you’re not having someone else and it’s ten episodes.”
Jasper, who is 78, is considered one of the godfathers of British comedy.
He has performed huge stand-up tours and starred in hit TV shows, including Canned Carrott and spoof police drama The Detectives.
Comedy icons Bob Mortimer, Frank Skinner, Julian Clary and Jo Brand have appeared in previous series of Taskmaster alongside up-and-coming comics, whose careers have boomed following their appearance on the show.
The Channel 4 hit, which was originally on Dave from 2015 until 2019, was renewed for another six series in March last year.
Its first-ever Junior spin-off will air this year, with previous participants Mike Wozniak and Rose Matafeo taking on the roles of Alex and the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies.
Rita's frying start
RITA Ora has revealed she’s the latest celebrity convert to air fryers.
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But she’s not quite Nigella Lawson when it comes to using them – as she’s already wrecked three.
The Masked Singer judge will be mocked by her co-stars this weekend when she opens up about her kitchen mishap, as mystery celeb Air Fryer takes to the stage for the first time.
Rita, who features with fellow judges Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, and Mo Gilligan, has been pouring oil inside them like she’s preparing to deep-fry chips.
She tells show host Joel Dommett: “I’m new to the air fryer community. It took me a couple of months to work it out. I don’t think I was made for the kitchen.”
It’s best to avoid a dinner invite at Rita’s.
Claudia's slice of life
WHEN Strictly Come Dancing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman come off-air, they aren’t discussing the contestants or their glitzy performances.
Instead, they argue about what topping belongs on a pizza.
Claudia reveals that every Saturday night, the pair lie down side-by-side in their dressing room as she tries to convince her not to order a Hawaiian.
She tells Mark Wogan on the Spooning With podcast: “My favourite game is trying to persuade Tess that pineapple doesn’t belong on a pizza.
"We always end every show of Strictly with us lying on her floor.
“I have to take out her contact lens for her, because I love her and she only wears it for Strictly and doesn’t want to take it out.
“She’s only got one eye that works.
It's three and easy for them
IT’S going to be a busy year for Emma Willis.
As well as hosting new CBBC sustainable fashion competition Style It Out, and joining forces with husband Matt for Love Is Blind: UK on Netflix, I can reveal she’s been teed up for a third show.
The Voice presenter will return to front a fourth series of Cooking With The Stars.
She has presented the past three runs of the show alongside comedian Tom Allen.
More episodes were given the official go-ahead by ITV at the start of December, and the programme went back into production before Christmas.
Celebs on the show are paired with an accomplished chef to mentor them.
Past winners include Samia Longchambon, Dr Ranj Singh and Harry Judd.
The new series is expected to air on ITV1 later this year.
Life in Oz is tough on farm
IF the contestants on Channel 4’s new reality show Brits Down Under thought they were going to have a laid-back outback experience, they should think again.
The group head to a remote farm to be put through their paces by owner Grant.
They aim to get employed on local ranches, earn cash and extend their Oz visas – but Grant promises they will be thrown in the deep end.
He warns: “Are they going to do some tough stuff? Yes, I’m going to make them. Why not? They’re here, they’ve been on holiday and that hasn’t been knocked out of them yet.
“They have got to get themselves in gear because if they don’t want to work, they can f*** off.”
Brits Down Under is on Monday at 10pm on Channel 4.
An early one for host Dan
DAN Walker has revealed he’s returning to the early-morning shift.
He will wake up before the sun rises with a new job on Monday, more than a year and a half after he quit his role at BBC Breakfast.
The host will swap the TV screen for radio when he begins hosting Classic FM’s early morning slot.
While he will still continue on his regular Channel 5 news programme alongside newsreader Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, Dan will be setting his alarm extra early to make time for the new job with the classical music station.
He takes over from presenter TIM LIHOREAU, who steps down after 12 years on the show.
Dan, who presented the Beeb’s breakfast TV show for six years, told his fans on social media: “I need to dust off my alarm clock.
“I’m really excited about joining the brilliant team at Classic FM – massive job, but I can’t wait to get started on the breakfast show. See you at 6:30am.”
