Paul O'Grady's friend Dame Joan Collins will help to kick off his new prime-time talk show.
Paul O'Grady
It was previously revealed Paul was set to return with a new series, 'Saturday Night Line-Up', and his long-time pal is now said to be among one of his first guests on the upcoming programme.
A TV insider said: "After months of being stuck indoors in lockdown Paul couldn’t wait to get out and start filming again, though it was a strange experience being back in a TV studio.
"This is certainly a spectacular comeback of sorts for Paul, who we haven’t seen making this type of show for years."
In the new 45-minute episodes, Paul is to quiz the guest stars about "intriguing" scenarios and dilemmas, and the studio audience will also be able to get involved and throw a few questions the celebs' way.
The insider added to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "He was a master when he hosted 'The Paul O’Grady Show' on ITV and Channel 4 and fronting 'Blankety Blank' as his alter-ego, Lily Savage.
"Fans will be thrilled to have him returning to this kind of television format with big production values and famous faces."
Paul shot a pilot of the programme two years ago, and joked at the time it was unlikely to make it to a full series because it was "too rude".
He laughed: "This will never get to a series.
“It’s the dirtiest show that is possible on telly. It is too rude. But they want a bit of rudeness now.
“I mean who the f*** wants to watch Alan Titchmarsh? You know what they are like at ITV, they are a bit leg-crossed aren’t they? Phil and Holly – the pair who p*** themselves if somebody says ‘bum.' "
Tagged in Paul O' Grady