New channel plans 'to rival' BBC, ITV

A new UK variety channel with major celebrity endorsements is planning to rival ITV and the BBC in primetime.

The Great British Television Channel, a venture from entertainment broker Creative Results, will launch Christmas Eve on Sky, airing daily from 4pm thereafter.

Chris Tarrant and Joe Pasquale are members of the channel board, while comedian Richard Digance is the managing director. Other celeb backers include Carol Voderman, Vinnie Jones, Bill Wyman, Jimmy Tarbuck, Julian Clary, Tommy Walsh, Ronnie Corbett, Shane Ritchie and Jim Davidson.

The channel will produce its own shows as well as acquiring programmes. On the planned schedule is Live From London Town, based on Sunday Night at the Palladium, which will be hosted by Brian Conley, and It's Your Call, based on a Capital Radio show.

"The UK needs an alternative to what is currently on the BBC and ITV on Saturday nights," Digance told C21 Media. "Currently there is nothing on TV that includes 'variety' as the British public perceives it to be."

He added that although the station had been in development for a year, the carriage deal was only signed off a few days ago.