There’s Going to Be A US Version of Saturday Night Takeaway… And Look Who’s Hosting!

Another hit UK show is headed for the US, but this time the makers may just have hit the nail on the head with their leading man.  Cheeky chappie presenters Ant and Dec are at the helm of the hugely popular Saturday Night Takeaway on these shores, even completing a successful live tour of the show across the UK and Ireland. Now, the US is getting it's own version, with none other than Neil Patrick Harris set to take the reigns. Vulture reports that NBC has landed the How I Met Your Mother star to headline the American version of the variety show, in the format produced by ITV. The news marks a big payday for ITV too, as the network asked for an on-the-air, ten-episode order for the deal, with a price tag of $2.5 million per episode. It is expected that the who will be filmed in New York. "As I watched the show, I couldn't stop smiling. Now that I've seen many seasons, my face hurts. It's a game changer,” said Harris. “Nothing like this has been done before, and it's unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!" Harris is also set to host next years Academy Awards ceremony, having proved a very popular host of the Tony and Emmy Awards.