Alan Carr set to replace David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent

Charlie Herbert

He’s emerged as the favourite to replace Walliams

Alan Carr is reportedly set to replace David Walliams as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.

The lineup of the panel on the hit ITV show is up in the air following recent controversy surrounding Walliams and comments he made to contestants in January 2020.

Now, it seems that Carr is the front-runner to replace him and join Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden on the panel.

A source told the Sun that he’s emerged as the favourite, stating: “Alan is joining the line-up, it just has to be him he’s brilliant.

“The deal is being finalised, but it’s details now – and he’s totally up for it too. It’s the perfect hiring all round.”

Another source told the Daily Mail: “Alan is hilarious but also kind. He tells a mean joke but he is also soft in the middle.

“The bosses are already excited about how wonderful he will be with the contestants.

“He will complement the panel so well too, he is really close friends with Amanda and he has known Simon and Alesha for years too.

“Everyone involved in the show is so excited and they can’t wait to get started.”

It was reported last year that Walliams had stepped down from his role on the judging panel on Britain’s Got Talent, after leaked transcripts emerged of derogatory comments he made towards auditionees.

In transcripts obtained by the Guardian, the television personality and children’s author was recorded referring to one contestant as a “c**t” and saying of another: “She thinks you want to f**k her, but you don’t.”

Walliams’ involvement in BGT is up in the air, with reports last year suggesting he had quit the show (Getty)

The offensive remarks were made during a recorded audition show at the London Palladium in January 2020. Lawyers or Walliams and Thames TV, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent,argued the comments were part of a private conversation never intended for broadcast.

The Guardian reports that the comments were made about an older performer who engaged in some light hearted banter with the judges during which he made a jibe about Walliams.

His comments were picked up by microphones used to capture discussion between the judges while they are sat at their desks in front of the stage.

The second incident occurred shortly after a female contestant auditioning on the same show had walked off stage. When her performance was over, Walliams remarked: “She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to fuck them, but you don’t.”

Walliams reiterated: “She thinks you want to f**k her, but you don’t.”

He then added: “I know, she’s just like: ‘Oh, f**k off!’ I was saying, she thinks you want to f**k her, but you don’t. It’s the last thing on your mind, but she’s like: ‘Yep, I bet you do!’ ‘No I don’t!’ I had a bit of a boner, but now it’s going, it’s now shrivelled up inside my body.”

In a statement, Walliams said: “I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”

In the leaked transcripts from the three episodes, Walliams’ comments were the only instances of derogatory remarks about contestants.

Related links: