JAMIE OLIVER wants to bring back legendary series Blind Date – and become the new Cilla Black.
The chef is such a huge fan of the show that it is the only non-cooking series he would ever consider fronting.
And he reckons it would be the perfect time for Blind Date to return, as dating apps are “too convenient”.
Jamie said in an exclusive chat: “I love a bit of love and there needs to be more in the world.
“Everything’s gone all Tinder, Grindr and Hinge. It’s too easy, too convenient.
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“And one of the things I’ve always seen, if everything is too linear and too efficient, you miss everything you can learn in the wonkiness and the inefficiency. So I love Cilla Black and I love Blind Date, and I would happily turn up and do that.”
Blind Date aired on ITV between 1985 and 2003 hosted by Cilla.
But it made a brief comeback on Channel 5 in 2017, fronted by the late Paul O'Grady.
A singleton on the show would grill three potential suitors who were sitting behind a screen, before picking their favourite to go on a date.
Jamie, who released his first children’s book Billy And The Giant Adventure last month, insists he would not tinker too much with the format, but might introduce a segment more in line with his skill set.
He added: “There would be a bit of cooking in there too, just to mix it up a bit.
“But this is straight from the heart — talk to ITV.”
Jamie had no such need to find love on a dating show after finding love with wife Jools, the mother of his five kids, when he was 17.
The pair married in 2000 and recently renewed their vows in the Maldives.
As Cilla might have said, there’s still a lorra lorra love between them.
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AB FAB – MIA WE GO AGAIN
ITV1 has confirmed the line-up for its new Abba-themed talent show, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.
I revealed in September that it was making the contest, which will air later this year.
The show is being filmed in the Greek Islands, where the original Mamma Mia! story is set, and sees stage wannabes singing Abba tunes in a bid to get two leading roles in a new stage production of Mamma Mia!.
Earlier this year I also revealed that Alan Carr and Samantha Barks would be joining the judging panel.
Now show bosses have confirmed that they will be joined by singer Jessie Ware and West End star Amber Riley, while Zoe Ball will be on hosting duties.
She said: “Our contestants are going to go through quite the journey, but like the show and the movie, there is going to be song, dance and fun in the sun.
"And we cannot wait for you to come on that journey with us.”
Alan added: “Getting to judge on one of my favourite musicals, in one of my favourite locations ever, is literally my dream job.
"A whole lot of feta and a whole lot of Abba – perfection.”
Sounds cheesy, but fun.
TIME TO HONOUR OUR LEN
LEN GOODMAN should be honoured on Strictly Come Dancing when the series returns later this year, dancer Graziano Di Prima has told me.
The BBC show’s former Head Judge died last month aged 78, leaving its cast and crew devastated.
Strictly has also said goodbye to presenter Rylan Clark, who has decided to move on from It Takes Two.
Graziano said: “I really hope something will happen to commemorate Len – I think one of his favourite dances, or something.
“It’s sad about Rylan. We’re very, very good friends. I said to him last year, ‘Why don’t you do Strictly on the line-up? You can dance with me’.
“He was like, ‘Oh, that is the only reason I’d join the show!’”
Graziano’s choreographed sizzling new stage show La Bamba! for old Strictly pal Pasha Kovalev.
It is inspired by Fifties rock ’n’ roll singer Ritchie Valens. He said three of Strictly’s recent celebrity dancers had the talent to join the tour.
Graziano added: “There are so many. But Tyler West last year, Will Mellor, Kym Marsh – she’s 46! I was blown away by her talent, and such a humble person.”
La Bamba! opens at the Curve Theatre in Leicester on August 1. See labambaon- stage.co.uk.
STRICTLY ONE JOB FOR TESS
TESS DALY has explained that being a mother to her two daughters is part of the reason she only fronts one show – BBC One’s Strictly.
The presenter, said on the Spinning Plates podcast: “I probably would’ve worked more if I hadn’t been a mother.
"I didn’t want to miss out on all those lovely first moments you have when you’re a mum as well.
“Being a parent does demand that you are around, so it’s just been juggling that ever since really – juggling the work with the parenting and trying to make it all work, trying to show my girls you can be a mother, you can work .”
TONY: I’M SOUND AT RADIO 2
TONY BLACKBURN is hopeful he can survive the Radio 2 shake-ups that have seen veterans including Steve Wright, Simon Mayo and Vanessa Feltz exit from their major shows.
When asked if he, too, would be heading out of the doors of Wogan House, Tony said: “Why would one want to leave the No1 radio station?
“I get on really well there. I love it and hope they give me a lifetime contract. I’m certainly there for the next two years.”
Tony, who kicks off his Sounds Of The 60s tour in Folkestone, Kent, on November 8, said he was gutted at having put back the live shows due to ill health.
But he admitted he was looking forward to getting into the swing of it again.
Tony, who has had a chest infection, added: “When I fully recover, I’ll be back.
"I was dashing around the country like a 21-year-old doing three shows a week and I suddenly realised I am actually 80 now.
“It’s been frustrating not being able to do it and to rest.”
Get well soon, Tony.
- Tickets for the tour are available on Ticketmaster.
