David Walliams pulls out of panel show

David Walliams has dropped out of BBC One’s new primetime panel show, I Love My Country.

The Little Britain star was to have hosted the Saturday-night show – but pulled out at the last minute citing other commitments.His place alongside team captains Frank Skinner and Micky Flanagan has been taken by sports presenter Gabby Logan.It is the second change of cast for the show, as Greg Davies was a team captain at a pilot recorded in the summer, but he too stepped down because of other work. Celebrities appearing over the eight episodes include: Kelly Holmes, Eamonn Holmes, Robbie Savage, Larry Lamb, Len Goodman, Christine Bleakley, Mel C and McFly's Dougie Poynter.The show is being recorded this week for broadcast early next year. BBC commissioner Alan Tyler has called it ‘a funny, boisterous and shamelessly competitive celebration of the UK’.One twist is that the studio audience will also be divided into two teams who will cheerlead Frank and Micky’s teams. The show, based on a Dutch TV hit of the same name and made by Avalon Television, also features a house band fronted by Jamelia.

Published: 18 Dec 2012