Frank Skinner is to launch his assault on Michael Parkinson's chat show crown from WITHIN the BBC.

The comic's show is a jewel in ITV1's Saturday-night line-up from this week, scheduled to start just 45 minutes before Parkinson's well-established BBC1 show.

But, despite the rivalry, Skinner will record his show from inside the corporation's Television Centre.

The venue was changed from an independent studio to the west London site when taping dates switched from Sundays to Fridays in advance of the well-publicised ratings battle.

Parkinson has denied seeing Skinner as a threat to his 9million audience, saying: "I wouldn't have thought we have got anything to worry about - have you seen the ratings for the last two weeks?"

But ITV boss David Liddiment is adamant his multi-million pound signing will prove a hit, saying: "Frank Skinner is one of the most talented comedy stars of his generation."