LOS ANGELES - MARCH 11: James chats with guests on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN, scheduled to air Thursday March 11 2021 (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. (Photo by Adam Torgerson/CBS via Getty Images)
MO GILLIGAN followed in JAMES CORDEN’s footsteps by hosting the Brits – and now he’s being lined up to take his place on The Late Late Show.
I can reveal The Masked Singer judge is the favourite to replace James when he leaves the US chat show next year.
Mo Gilligan is the favourite to replace James Corden when he leaves the Late Late ShowThe Londoner has impressed programme bosses since moving to LA, with a source saying he has potential to be a household name in the US
The Londoner has impressed programme bosses since moving to LA to film That’s My Jam, the British version of a popular Stateside music and comedy off- ering hosted by another chat show king, Jimmy Fallon.
A source said: “TV execs can’t get enough of Mo.
They appreciate that, like James when he first started, Mo’s currently not a household name in the US but he’s got the potential to be.
A shortlist of replacements for James is being drawn up and Mo is at the top of the list.”
James announced last April he was quitting The Late Late Show to spend more time with his family in the UK.
He became its host in 2015, after Scottish comic Craig Ferguson left.
Gavin & Stacey star James — who admitted standing down was a “hard decision” — has been a huge success in the US, landing a number of lucrative film roles.
Mo revealed in August he wanted to break America, having hosted The Lateish Show, the rebooted The Big Breakfast, plus the Brits in the UK.
His debut fronting the music bash last February was well received. But James will be a hard act to follow.
No Holden back
AMANDA Holden has a new favourite hobby other than posing in her bikini – roasting Jimmy Carr.
The Heart FM host says she’s constantly ribbing the comedian while they film BBC1 series I Can See Your Voice.
And thankfully for Amanda, Jimmy loves it – but obviously doesn’t hold back trading insults with his co-star.
She revealed: “I can give as good as I get, but he normally gives better.
“But I’ve done tax jokes, I’ve done plastic surgery jokes, I’ve poked fun at his hair transplant.
“Anytime I can, I’ve got in the sort of low punches.
“He loves it! He loves a comedy roast.”
Amanda even says Jimmy praises her best gags, demanding production keep them in the final edit.
She explains: “He’s very generous as well.
“He’ll often laugh at a gag and afterwards he’ll say, ‘God, I hope they keep that in. That was really funny. You’re really funny.’
“And for it to come from him is the biggest compliment in the world. Because obviously he knows what he is talking about.”
The new series of I Can See Your Voice starts this Saturday, with Alison Hammond once again joining Amanda and Jimmy on the panel trying to determine whether the guest music artists are genuine singers or not.
Paddy McGuinness is returning as host.
Jimmy and Amanda won’t be short of material on him.
Gregg’s chilli revenge
FUTURE MasterChef contestants should be wary of upsetting Gregg Wallace.
The show’s co-host once took revenge on an ex-boss by lacing his tea cup with chilli.
Gregg Wallace has revealed he once took revenge on an ex-boss by lacing his tea cup with chilli
He took drastic action because Gregg, who was a young warehouseman at the time, felt he was being picked on.
On tonight’s episode of Unbelievable on Dave, Gregg says: “I had a boss who I’m pretty sure used to drink too much and every day he came in smelling like a bottle of pinot.
“He always picked on me and the state of the scales.
“When it was really cold we’d have a wozza – that was a cup of tea with whiskey in it.
“I rubbed a habanero chilli around the rim of his cup, and, err, he just screamed.”
Vernon played a Blinder
VERNON Kay’s gigantic new back tattoo can rub off after three months, I can reveal.
HOAR told yesterday how the TV presenter shocked fans by unveiling the image of ex-NFL star Eli Manning’s face, which he claimed was a result of losing a bet in 2012.
Vernon Kay’s back tattoo is semi-permanent
But the image is only semi-permanent.
The tattoo was created by the same firm that etches fake tattoos on the stars of gritty BBC drama Peaky Blinders.
The make-up artist applied a varnish-like sealant to extend the life of the inking.
A source said: “The tattoo totally tricked his own kids.”
Vernon’s wife, Strictly host Tess Daly, was in on the gag.
Well, it had me fooled.
Rob and Rom go walkies
FORGET the NTAs or the British Comedy Awards, the only trophy Rob Beckett’s eyeing up is at Crufts.
The funnyman competes at the dog show with Romesh Ranganathan in the new series of Rob & Romesh Vs.
Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan will compete in dog training in the new series of their show
It comes four months after Rob told this column the pair wanted to take part in the competition in Birmingham.
Rob, host of BBC1’s new celebrity relationship show Unbreakable, said:
“We’ve both got dogs, so it would be funny to do dog training at Crufts.”
As well as their own pets, Rob and Romesh also took part with more experienced mutts.
