AS YOU prepare to bunker down for Christmas with a remote control in one hand and a week's supply of mince pies in the other, spare a thought for poor David Walliams. The comedian and Britain's Got Talent judge has been working tirelessly for your viewing pleasure in the run-up to the big day, with a schedule almost as busy as Santa Claus.
There's a festive special of his sketch show, Walliams And Friend, hosting duties at the Royal Variety Performance, a TV tribute to Dame Shirley Bassey, a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, and last but not least, a revival of classic quiz show Blankety Blank.
Taking a moment to pause for breath, the busy star – who'll also have a presenting slot on ITV's new talk and entertainment series The Nightly Show in 2017 – describes his heaving timetable as "a wonderful end to the year".
"I've got a strong work ethic. I do like working. And when you're busy, it's good, because you're not fazed by things," the 45-year-old admits.
"We're recording Blankety Blank the night after the Royal Variety Performance, so Blankety Blank will be like a holiday after appearing in front of Prince Charles."
Growing up, Walliams was a big fan of the quiz show, in which two contestants compete head-to-head to fill in the blank in a statement and match the answers of six celebrity panellists.
Blankety Blank originally ran from 1979 to 1990 and was hosted first by the late Terry Wogan, then Les Dawson. Lily Savage (aka comedian Paul O'Grady) brought it back in the late-90s, but it has been off air since 2002.
For Walliams, the show's tongue-in-cheek approach was one of the big draws – that and the catchy theme tune.
"I love the way it sends itself up. It knows it's daft. It has an inbuilt sense of irony, which is most unusual in this genre," he adds. "I loved the double entendres and the chemistry between the people on the show. For instance, there was a great relationship between Terry Wogan and [panellist] Kenny Everett.
"I also loved the theme tune, that song that just endlessly goes, 'Blankety Blank'. It's absolutely ridiculous, but you can't get it out of your head."
The winnings on Blankety Blank won't be in the same league as other shows, but that's all part of its charm too.
"On most game shows, you have to big up the prizes and the celebrities. But Blankety Blank is different," says Walliams, who has a three-year-old son, Alfred, with his ex-wife, the Dutch model Lara Stone.
"I deliberately don't want the prizes to be too flash. It's not like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Are you going to win a million pounds? No, if you're lucky, you're going to win a Blankety Blank cheque book and pen or a food mixer. Everyone is doing it just for the fun of taking part. Appearing on TV should be a laugh."
The funnyman and author is is no stranger to saucy innuendo and near-the-knuckle humour in the likes of Little Britain and Britain's Got Talent, but insists the show will keep things fairly clean.
Previous guests on Blankety Blank have included Angela Rippon, Lenny Henry, Ken Dodd and Lulu, and Walliams is keen for the show to include "a few showbiz legends" and have a "camp flavour" this time.
Top of his list are Barbara Windsor, Joan Collins, Basil Brush and the 'original' Chuckle Brothers, Barry and Paul.
"I'm obsessed with the Chuckle Brothers. They are hilarious and so talented. They're genuine clowns. They don't seem like real people – they seem like cartoon characters," Walliams says.
In fact, of all his Christmas programmes, Blankety Blank could well be Walliams' favourite – provided he gets his star signing.
"It's all building up to the Chuckle Brothers appearing on Blankety Blank. That's the pinnacle for me."
:: Blankety Blank airs on ITV on Christmas Eve
