Barrowman scores ITV1 pilot as channel cultivates comedy offering

Andrew Mickel16 February 2012

John Barrowman has fronted a comedy panel show for ITV1 based on his own life.

Celebrity teams led by Jason Manford and Myleene Klass answered him about events from his life.

The channel is hoping the non-TX pilot could see a different celebrity host the show each week.

After fronting Comedy Rocks and Show Me The Funny, Jason Manford has quickly become the channel's face of comedy.

ITV is investing in comedy via panel shows at a time that the BBC are backing off the format – no doubt spurred on by the low cost and rampant success of ITV2's Celebrity Juice.

The channel is also considering a Twitter-based panel show hosted by Jonathan Ross, while a sports entertainment show hosted by Alistair McGowan and executive produced by Harry Hill is on the cards. Paddy McGuinness has a panel show on international events called It's A Mad, Mad World.

A hidden camera show from Dom Joly, Fool Britannia, is also on the way, while Keith Lemon will also get his own agony aunt format after Celebrity Juice.