Peter Kay turned down chance to take over 'TV Burp' hosting job from Harry Hill

Stand-up comedy legend Peter Kay turned down an offer from Harry Hill to take over as host of his anarchic show TV Burp.

Hill, who fronted more than 160 episodes of Harry Hill’s TV Burp between 2001 and 2012, told The Sun that he gave Kay the chance to replace him in the role and said he also offered the job to stand-up Micky Flanagan.

TV Burp was one of the most popular programmes on ITV’s weekend schedule, taking a sideways look at the previous week’s television with the help of clips, sketches and Hill’s studio monologues.

Read more: Peter Kay tribute act raked in cash after cancelled tour

The show won three BAFTAs during the course of its run, but left screens when Hill stepped down after the 11th series.

“It took up my entire life,” said the comic. “I’d start watching telly at 9am, take half an hour break for lunch and get back to it.

“Other than going to record the show, I never really left the house.

“I asked Peter to take over but he didn’t fancy it.”

Hill has since fronted various shows, including Alien Fun Capsule, in addition to his recurring role providing voiceover for humorous home videos on You’ve Been Framed.

A feature film called The Harry Hill Movie, in which Hill appeared as himself in his exaggerated comic persona, was released in 2013.

Read more: Hill in movie mobility scooter duel with Julie Walters

The 54-year-old revealed that TV Burp is still something he is often asked to talk about.

He said: “I get asked about TV Burp daily. I was at the BBC filming it and bumped into Micky Flanagan.

“He said: ‘Are you here doing TV Burp? I love it’ and I said: ‘Well, do you want to take it on?’

“But it didn’t work out. He was too busy.”

At its peak between 2007 and 2008, TV Burp routinely attracted audiences of between six and eight million viewers.

Read more: Most shocking reality TV moments of 2018

Hill also revealed he turned down the chance to take a trip into the Australian bush for I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.

He said: “If you see me doing that, you know things have gone a bit wrong.”

The funnyman, with his trademark big-collared shirt, returned to screens this weekend with the third series of Alien Fun Capsule.