ITV bosses have revealed they want to hang on to Happy Mondays star Bez – long after he exits Dancing on Ice.
The Celeb Report can reveal that the 57-year-old, whose real name is Mark Berry, has “gone down a storm” with viewers.
His popularity is already seeing him being tipped as an outsider to win the show – despite being nowhere near the best dancer.
And producers on ITV are frantically discussing how they can work more closely with Bez in the future.
Our source said: “Bez has been the unlikely star of the series. ITV regularly hold viewers panels and everyone is saying how much they love him. He’s got a natural charm which viewers are warming to.
“And younger fans of the show, who had no clue who he was when the programme started, are loving watching videos of him on YouTube during his Happy Mondays days.
Our source added: “ITV knows that they need to move fast. He’s already a key part of Gogglebox on Channel Four and he’s said he’d be up for doing Strictly on the BEEB one day too.
“That’s why Producers are looking at other programmes on ITV that he could be well suited for. I’m A Celeb is an obvious one – his mate Shaun would be able to give him a few tips.
“But ITV bosses would love to get him on more prime time shows as well because he’s proved really popular with viewers and they think he will drive up ratings”.
Our story comes days after Bez admitted that some of his Dancing On Ice falls would have killed him in the absence of his safety helmet.
But he’s thrilled his current appearance is taking viewers’ minds off all the “nonsense” happening in the world.
The rock star also revealed his next TV challenge could be Strictly Come Dancing.
Bez was famed for his wild life in the 1990s, performing with the Happy Mondays, but it’s safety first these days.
More recently, a different audience has witnessed his star quality through stints on Celebrity MasterChef.
Bez, the first person in the history of Dancing On Ice to wear a helmet, said of his DOI experience last week: “I am still wearing [the helmet] this week because I do very heavy, out-of-control falls.
“It would be stupid for me not to because some of the blows I have had to my head, they could kill you if I didn’t have the helmet on.
He added: “I am so grateful for the support I’ve had and I will just keep on trying my best for everybody, to get better.
“TV has a role to play in keeping the nation’s spirits up at difficult times. Everybody needs cheering up at the moment because there is all this nonsense going on in the world, which is out of our hands”.
Asked which show he’d like to do next, Bez replied: “Strictly is one of those shows. I’m supposed to be a dancer as an occupation but I’m more a raver than a dancer.
“But one of my dreams would be to learn how to dance properly and I’d love to be able to have some really good dancing skills because I can see myself, when I’m getting older, in my old age, going off to all these ballroom dancing things”.
