He's the new Cilla, according to reports

Al Porter is set to host an Irish version of Blind Date, it has been reported today.

The TV3  channel previously planned to launch its own version of the show in 2014 with TV presenter  Lucy Kennedy as host, but the  plans were scrapped.

However The  Irish Sun reports that the remake is back on the agenda – with Porter set to step into the late Cilla Black’s shoes as host.

The broadcaster has refused to comment, but the newspaper quoted an unnamed ‘insider’ saying: ‘Al is perfect for hosting Blind Date. He can pull in viewers and go off script and be entertaining. Al’s a vaudeville performer.’

Blind Date is expected to feature in  TV3’s soon-to-be-launched autumn schedule. The station has previously aired its own version of Take Me Out, with radio personality Ray Foley in the Paddy McGuinness role, but this has not been on since 2014.

Porter, 24, currently presents a radio show on Ireland’s Today FM every weekday.

Published: 16 May 2017