Jason Manford signs deal to be final judge on new ITV talent show Starstruck

HE is one of my favourite celebrities on the box – so I’m very pleased to tell you there will be a lot more to see of Jason Manford this year.

The Salford-born comedian has been signed by ITV to be the fourth and final judge on its new talent show Starstruck.

I revealed yesterday that pop star Olly Murs has been chosen to host the series, a reboot of the ­Nineties telly classic Stars In Their Eyes.

And now Jason — who, performing as Hedgehog, was runner-up in The Masked Singer last year — is joining the team.

My telly insider said: “Jason is a fantastic addition to the panel and completes the Starstruck line-up, alongside fellow judges Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and ­Beverley Knight.

“He is hilarious and won’t hold back on his commentary about the acts giving it their all on stage.

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Jason has joined the panel alongside fellow judges Sheridan Smith, Adam Lambert and ­Beverley Knight[/caption]

“Jason knows all about the pressures of performing live, not only from his stand-up but from his stint on The Masked Singer as Hedgehog.

“He has told everyone he wants to have a laugh on the panel and will be trying his best to make sure his fellow judges and the acts are in stitches.”

Filming for the series is due to begin in the coming weeks.

Each episode will see four groups of three people being transformed into their favourite stars for a one-off performance.

Jason, Sheridan, Adam and Beverley will then pick their favourite group — who will perform again.

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Olly Murs has been chosen to host the series, a reboot of the ­Nineties telly classic Stars In Their Eyes[/caption]

Then the person deemed to be the best of the group will go through to the final later in the series — where the winner gets £50,000.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again now, Starstruck has to be one of ITV’s best ideas this year.

Following the runaway success of The Masked Singer, the channel has really tapped into what the public are looking for — good, clean, family fun.

With The Masked Dancer also hitting screens this year, alongside Starstruck, I think ITV is on to a winner.

And after such a dismal year, we all need a good laugh.

Alan: I’d Bed Argie Tramp

COMIC Alan Carr reckons men in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires are so attractive he would “have sex with a tramp” there.

On the comic’s Life’s A Beach podcast, Judge Rinder said guys in Tel Aviv, Israel, are “really fit” before Alan added: “You know what I’d say about Buenos Aires, they are really fit.

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Alan Carr reckons men in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires are so attractive he would ‘have sex with a tramp’ there[/caption]

“There was a tramp and I went, ‘Woah’.

“I would have sex with a tramp in Buenos Aires because they are fit.”

Rinder said: “They don’t sell the Big Issue, but if they did, you’d buy one.”

Alan added: “Oh yes, sneak under that roll of newspaper and give them a cuddle.”