BRITAIN'S most famous - and perhaps most feared - TV critic is set to host a variety show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach for two weeks this summer.

Garry Bushell, infamous for his outspoken views in The Sun newspaper, will compere the Big Big Variety Show in the Paradise Rooms, attempting to highlight variety shows as good family entertainment.

He said: "I was so angered by the decision to axe the Big Big Talent Show from television that I thought something should be done.

"The other factor involved is that no one in the world of television takes talent shows seriously.

"They replaced the Big Big Talent Show with Ice Warriors which cost £1 million per episode and only got two million viewers.

"The television people aren't interested in making family entertainment shows - they just want popular, well-established faces to sell their programmes.

"Without some form of variety show on television, we won't see the new generation come through.

"We decided to bring the show to Blackpool because it is, without a doubt, the home of variety and light entertainment in Europe.

"Public support is the only way to prove to TV bosses that there is a real demand for variety programming.

"The BBC's Paul Jackson is coming along and hopefully he'll realise how big this show could be.

"I've come to Blackpool with my column for The Sun every year covering the shows which are excellent."

Singer Lisa Valente, mimic Francine Lewis, magician Stephen Mulhearn, comedian Andy Leach and new country singer Tania make up the show along with the Tip Toe Dancers.

Tania, described as England's Shania Twain, said: "As far as getting out to a mainstream audience is concerned, this show is a great chance.

"There's nowhere for new acts to go on television."

The Big Big Variety Show arrives in Blackpool from June 1 to 14 and tickets cost £9.50 for adults and £4.50 for children on 345247.

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