Michael McIntyre has dominated Saturday night TV over the last few years, particularly with his BBC series – Michael McIntyre’s Big Show – just one year shy of marking a decade on the air. However, it’s been a bumpy ride to success for Michael, who once reportedly feuded with TV rival Britain’s Got Talent star Simon Cowell.
The pair reportedly clashed back in 2018, when Simon Cowell was developing the now-cancelled BBC competition The Greatest Dancer. According to the Daily Star, the show originally saw saw hopeful performers showcasing their ballroom or ballet skills for a panel of unknown experts.
However, there was another judging panel backstage, featuring ex-Girls Aloud singer Cheryl and Diversity’s Ashley Banjo. If they’re impressed by the performance, they hit a button, causing a giant screen to collapse and reveal a live studio audience and the real celebrity judges.
(Image: BBC)
But comedian Michael McIntyre wasn’t too pleased when he heard about the show format, as it closely resembled a stunt from his BBC Saturday night hit, The Big Show. After a series of heated exchanges with the Beeb, Cowell – whose company Syco is making the show with Thames TV – reportedly faced pressure to change the format.
A source said back in 2018: “It’s all very embarrassing. “Michael knows Simon well because he was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent but now they’re at loggerheads over this.
“Michael was not happy. The similarities between The Unexpected Star and The Greatest Dancer are simply uncanny,” reports the Daily Star.
A show insider added: “The Greatest Dancer will go ahead but the format has yet to be confirmed. The pilot show contained a surprise element but it is a format that’s in development.” Meanwhile, a representative for Michael McIntyre at the time stated: “We have no comment.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Syco also chose not to comment. However, a TV insider also said: “Michael might think Simon’s show is a copy but in fact this surprise stunt is not new to telly and has been used in various shows over the years.”
When The Greatest Dancer eventually aired in 2019, the format was indeed different – with dancers performing in front of a two-way mirror while the public audience had the power to decide whether the act would go through to the next stage of the competition. If 75 percent of the audience turned on their lights, the act would qualify for the callbacks.
The panel of dance captains eventually included Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, Glee star Matthew Morrison, singer Cheryl and social media star Todrick Hall, meanwhile Alesha Dixon and Jordan Banjo hosted the show. It aired for two series on BBC One before being cancelled, however winner Jowita Przystal went onto join the professional dancer cast of Strictly Come Dancing.
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