Comic signs to C4 for two more years

Alan Carr has signed an exclusive two-year deal with Channel 4, worth a reported £3million.

Both ITV and the BBC had been interested in signing the 32-year-old comedian, with ITV reported to have been prepared to pay up to £1million a year.

Under the deal, Carr will continue to host The Sunday Night Project alongside Justin Lee Collins as well as hosting his quiz show Celebrity Ding Dong.

He is also developing more prime-time series for Channel 4.

The company’s head of comedy, Andrew Newman, said: ‘He is one of the funniest men on TV. We look forward to developing his TV career over the next two years while making him an even bigger star.’

Carr added: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be spending two more glorious years at Channel 4. It's a civil ceremony made in heaven.’

Carr's new deal starts in January, when his current Channel 4 contract expires. He is represented by Off The Kerb – the agency that also negotiated Jonathan Ross’s controversial £18million contract with the BBC.

Published: 28 Jul 2008