HE’S one of the nicest men on telly, but Joel Dommett has shown surprising opportunism in the wake of allegations surrounding fellow TV star Gino D’Acampo.
ITV have just confirmed that it won’t be showing the controversial Italian’s most recently-filmed series of Family Fortunes, which all but spells the end for him in the role.
And now that The Masked Singer has ended, Joel says he wants to take the reins on the popular quiz because he’s always fancied Gino’s job.
He told the Always Be Comedy podcast: “Now Gino D’Acampo is gone, maybe I’ve got the chance to slide in. I’ve been waiting for that.
“Honestly, Family Fortunes for me is the best show on telly and I know people will say, ‘What are you talking about?’. The perfect format is where the right answer or wrong answer, are both satisfying, but that’s so hard to achieve.”
Joel wrapped up the latest series of The Masked Singer on Saturday night, as musical theatre’s Samantha Barks, aka Pufferfish, emerged as the winner.
Now, he’d love to put a twist on the traditional format of Family Fortunes, which has been hosted by Gino since 2020.
He said: “I really think Family Feud, the American version, is THE best telly show in the world.
“So I would love to do the UK gig, but I would turn it into a different show.
“The American one leads you down a fun garden path with every answer, so when they say ‘name a race’, they want you to say ‘the 100 metres’ or ‘a heptathlon’, but someone says ‘Chinese people’ and everyone laughs. That’s what you need in it!”
The third series of Family Fortunes under Gino was scrapped by ITV after multiple allegations of bad behaviour came to light, though the channel has yet to confirm what plans they have for it moving forward.
Meanwhile, Joel’s other ITV gameshow, In With A Shout, has been shelved after two series — and it’s not clear when or if a third will be made.
And his big BBC gig, Survivor, has had a huge question mark over it as it went out in 2023, but the Beeb have yet to confirm a second outing.
Sounds like Joel has plenty of good reasons to eye up Gino’s old role.
Chuffed Puffer’s new gig
FRESH from her Masked Singer victory, when she was unveiled as Pufferfish, Samantha Barks has announced a one-night- only solo concert.
The actress and singer – who played Elsa in the West End production of Frozen and also starred in Les Miserables – will take to London’s Palladium on April 5.
Supported by a live band, the star will reel off her best-known hits – though she will have to get used to the crowds seeing her face again after getting comfy in her costume on the ITV singing contest.
Samantha said: “It’s been so fun to perform inside the mask, it’s so liberating.”
Dates a First for Vic’s Ma
SHE has found fame as Coronation Street’s Angie Appleton, but now Victoria Ekanoye is letting her mum take the limelight.
The actress, who appeared on the cobbles from 2017 to 2019, filled out the application for First Dates on behalf of her mum to give her a boost.
Candy will appear on the Channel 4 show at 10pm tonight, on her first date in seven years after a battle with breast cancer knocked her confidence.
Victoria went on to battle the same cancer in 2021, before confirming she too had beaten the disease last year after undergoing a double mastectomy.
Unfazed by the idea her mum might out-do her on telly, and find herself a new career path, Victoria said: “She’ll outshine me, I’m going to retire – because she’s just TV gold.
“She’s funny without trying to be, and I just know people are going to love her!”
Kate behind the camera
KATE WINSLET will make her directorial debut in Netflix film Goodbye June.
She will also star in the drama, alongside Toni Collette, Timothy Spall and Helen Mirren.
Set in England, it sees a group of siblings united in “sudden and trying circumstances”.
It will go into production soon.
Goodish Gregg gag axe
DAVE GORMAN has had to axe an episode of his Modern Life Is Goodish series after material about TV presenter Gregg Wallace was cut.
The U&Dave show will return on February 24, but the run has been shortened to three episodes.
It had been written and performed before the MasterChef host was accused of sexual harassment and making inappropriate comments – claims Gregg denies.
Dave’s fascination with Gregg and his rise to fame and role as presenter of Inside The Factory was at the centre of much of his live tour last year.
During the comedy set, Dave referred to the grocer-turned-TV-host as a “six-year-old in a man’s clothing”, as he poked fun at his unusual career path.
