IT’S a blue Christmas for comic Mo Gilligan, who has lost TWO of his big gigs in the space of a week.
Just days ago he revealed The Lateish Show on Channel 4 was ending after four series, with its final outing — a Christmas special — airing on Wednesday.
And now I can confirm that his primetime gig for the BBC, That’s My Jam, has been cancelled too.
Mo had been hand-picked by Jimmy Fallon to host the spin-off, which was based on the fun segment in the US late-night legend’s own talk show.
But the music-based contest failed to find its groove here in Blighty and the Beeb has canned it after just one series.
It means Mo has just one UK TV job remaining, on ITV’s The Masked Singer, which begins its fifth series on Saturday, December 30 at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
A BBC spokesman told me: “Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made, so while there will not be another series of That’s My Jam, we would like to extend our thanks to Mo Gilligan and the teams at Universal International Studios’ label Monkey and Universal Television Alternative Studio for bringing the series to audiences in the UK.”
Mo announced in November he is also stepping down from presenting the annual Brit Awards show after two stints as host. But he has teased that he has plenty of plans in the works, writing online: “Next year is a busy one for me.”
On Lateish ending, he added: “I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of this show.
“There are so many moments that I’ll always look back on with so much happiness.”
The Masked Singer’s festive episode comes hot on the heels of its Bafta win for best entertainment programme in May.
Mo said: “The way the show has captured the nation’s imagination is really cool. So to have a Bafta award, we’re up there with the Saturday night greats.”
ONE More Sleep hitmaker Leona Lewis will join The Masked Singer panel for the show’s Christmas Day special.
Leona, with regulars Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Rita Ora and Jonathan Ross will try to guess the identities of four new characters: Reindeer, Decorations, Sprout and Partridge (In A Pear Tree).
Teasing what’s to come, singer Rita said: “The show is just that crazy and the costumes are just as crazy as well!”
The Christmas Special, hosted by Joel Dommett airs at 7.30pm on ITV1.
GRANTCHESTER actor Tom Brittney knows only too well why some people say never work with animals or children.
Tom – who plays the Rev Will Davenport – was left hushing screaming babies and with clothes covered in greasy dog treats while filming the ITV1 drama’s eighth seres.
He says: “There are a couple of babies I’m holding and it made me so broody, they are lovely. But when you have to do 30 takes and the baby gets bored and starts to scream it’s not so much fun.
“And [canine companion] Dickens was very well-behaved, although in every scene with him, I probably have a handful of sausages to bribe him.
“He’s got a very good agent, while I get greasy hands and have to change my costume.”
Grantchester returns on January 11 at 9pm.
NICK Knowles says the cast of EastEnders get stuck in to the tasks during the DIY SOS Christmas special.
Soap stars Perry Fenwick, Gillian Wright, Zaraah Abrahams, Natalie Cassidy, Colin Salmon and Scott Maslen helped transform a mental health community project in Essex.
But despite being handed power tools to get to work alongside show host Nick and his team, there was no risk report.
Nick jokes: “Everyone got stuck in and engaged – especially on site, where they chipped in with painting, moving, using power equipment to flatten concrete.
“But a risk assessment? No, they’re only actors – they are disposable, aren’t they?
“We could’ve always got another one, there’s a few of them about. We just didn’t tell EastEnders what we were going to be up to.”
The special airs tomorrow night at 8pm on BBC One.
