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Paul O'Grady moves his show to ITV
By Kevin Widdop, London Lite Last updated at 13:10pm on 14.10.09Paul O'Grady was set to sign a multi-million-pound deal with ITV today — despite saying he would “rather sweep the streets” than work there again.
The TV chat show host, 54, has been lured back with the promise of a Friday night programme that will see him running head-to-head against Jonathan Ross on the BBC.
Change of heart: Paul O'Grady at ITV studios yesterday with doggy pal
The prime-time ratings slot would mark a U-turn for O'Grady after he made an astonishing attack on ITV when he left in 2006, saying: “I would rather be sweeping the streets than working for ITV.
“Working at ITV was like the court of Caligula. I can't work for these petty tyrants any more.”
Channel 4 budget cuts of up to 60 per cent meant his daytime series The Paul O'Grady Show faced the axe, and a breakdown in talks for a show with Sky was thought to have led to his move.
O'Grady, whose dog Buster accompanies him on screen, said: “We can't make it on that budget. It'd be just me and the dog.”
The Scouser, famed for his drag alter ego Lily Savage, is set to sign a two-year deal believed to be worth £8m.
Reader views (3)
What is your profession Alan Green. Nobody is forced to watch anything on tv they do not want to and I for one enjoy an hours light entertainment Monday to Friday and when it is not aired miss it terribly. It is such a relief to forget about the troubles of the world for an hour and laugh at the antics of Paul, his guests, staff and of course his beloved pets.
- Anon, uk
Knowing ITV, they'll get him to sweep the streets and make a show out of it.
- Keith, King's Cross
THESE SHOWS ARE MAINLY ABOUT CELEBRATES. CELEBRITY CULTURE IS THE CURSE OF THE 21ST CENTURY. ITS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE
BUT YOUR PROPAGANDA STATUS. NOWADAYS CHILDREN DONT SAY THEY WANT TO BE A GREAT INVENTOR, A SCIENTIST OR DOCTOR, OR EVEN A GREAT ACTOR. THEY SAY THEY WANT TO BE A CELEBRITY, NO MATTER HOW BRAINLESS MANY ARE.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
