How do you compete with a showbiz behemoth?
Popular comedian and television host Alan Carr has revealed that his Chatty Man show has been axed by Channel Four after 16 series. The news will come as a blow to Carr’s many fans, who enjoy his lively brand of humour and warm rapport with special guests.
Alas it seems that fierce competition from chat show rivals Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross has resulted in an untimely end to Carr’s programme. There’s only a finite number of prestige names to feature on each show and it seems Chatty Man could no longer compete.
“I just think that the art of the chat show has evolved, unless you can get the amazing guests all the time that Norton gets,” Carr explained. “Three guests a week and Channel 4, God love ’em, extended it to 30 episodes — that’s 90 guests who are relevant and people are interested in, up against the amazing Norton and Jonathan Ross.”
There had been talk of moving the programme to Thursday nights, so that it wouldn’t be in direct competition with The Graham Norton Show, but Carr felt this was a non-starter and a change from Friday nights was “not the best move”.
Not that he seems bitter about the decision, adding: “I’ve gone as far as I can with Chatty Man. Won a BAFTA, won two NTAs.”
Fair play. We’re sure we’ll see Carr back on our screens soon in some way, shape or form.
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