In the new series of his Big Show, starting this weekend

Michael McIntyre pranks Spandau Ballet star Tony Hadley in the next series of his Big Show.

The singer fell victim to a celebrity version of the Unexpected Star segment of the BBC One show, in which people suddenly find themselves asked to perform on stage.

McIntyre explained: ‘I don’t want to give too much away but Tony Hadley thought he was going to the dentist, sat in the dentist chair and then the wall collapsed to reveal his band on the stage of the Theatre Royal, playing the opening notes of True’. What happens next is unmissable TV.’

Celebrities featuring in the Send To All segment include comics Katherine Ryan and Joe Lycett.

Of the latter, McIntyre says: ‘I sent a text into his phone inviting everyone to a party that was happening that night, pretending Joe had a special announcement. We hired a pub function room across the road from the theatre and waited to see who showed up.…’

Ahead of the show’s return this Saturday, Mcintyre also explains some of the practical jokes played on viewers – including a return to some successful moments of the past.

’Last series, we did a TV Takeover, where a man watched his favourite show, The Antiques Roadshow, but didn’t know he was watching a fake version full of all his belongings that we had borrowed from his home.  This series, we play a similar prank with The One Show.

‘And a few series ago, I stole someone’s home-cooked food from their freezer and then served it back to them in a Michelin-star restaurant.  The prank became a huge success on social media, so this series we did it again with a hilarious twist.’

There’s  also a new idea called Wheel on Wheels. The comic explains: ’I find people watching my gameshow The Wheel on TV as it’s broadcast on a Saturday night. I peer through windows into their front rooms, ring the doorbell, freak the life out of them, pause their TV and then play the game with them for prizes in the back of my Wheel On Wheels van. '

• Michael McIntyre's Big Show returns to BBC One at 6.50pm on Saturday.

Published: 9 Jan 2024