Alan Carr is returning to Channel 4 for a new Christmas show.

Alan Carr

Alan Carr

The 42-year-old TV presenter will head back to the channel to host a special called 'So This Is Christmas', two years after his 'Chatty Man' show was dropped from the network.

A TV insider told The Sun's Bizarre TV column: "Although this doesn't carry the 'Chatty Man' name, it's basically the same successful format in a Yuletide setting.

"Alan's Christmas specials have always proved hugely popular in the past, with viewers feeling they're actually a part of his festive party.

"But it might just leave one or two viewers pining for the days when he was on our screens virtually every week on Channel 4."

The festive one-off is expected to include showbiz guests, music and high energy that used to feature on 'Chatty Man' - which started off in 2009, scooped a BAFTA, two National Television Awards and welcomed high-profile guests such as Rihanna and Mariah Carey.

Despite giving the 'Friday Night Project' star a two-year extension to his contract in 2013 - in which Alan signed a deal worth £4 million - Channel 4 bosses announced in 2016 that the 16th series of the show would be the last after ratings plummeted.

At the time, Alan believed that he stood little chance against rival Graham Norton, because his guests weren't of the same calibre of his BBC competitors.

Alan said: "I just think that the art of the chat show has evolved, unless you can get the amazing guests all the time that Norton gets.

"Three guests a week and Channel 4, God love 'em, extended it to 30 episodes - that's 90 guests who are relevant and people are interested in, up against the amazing Norton and Jonathan Ross.

"I've gone as far as I can with 'Chatty Man'."

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