Comedy icon Dawn French is back on the box, hosting another series of Little Big Shots – the show that celebrates young talent.
Open to three to 13-year-olds, Little Big Shots is not a competition. And unlike Britain’s Got Talent there are no prizes or judges.
It is purely a chance for children with performing flair to showcase their spellbinding skills on TV.
From young stand ups and impressionists to singers of every possible style and genre with brilliance beyond their years, the spotlight is shone on each act by Dawn, who allows them to just show why they are stars in the making.
Read more: Dawn French reveals why she’s ditched the diet
This second series will invite amazing acts including a dog handler, a Eurovision expert, a champion hen racer and a juggling strongman to take the stage across the run’s six episodes.
We’ll take a look at Dawn’s glittering career in just a few moments, in case you haven’t had access to telly for over 30 years.
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But first, to whet your viewing appetite, here’s a little bit more background info on the perfect Sunday teatime viewing that is Little Big Shots…
What is Little Big Shots all about?
Little Big Shots made its UK TV debut in March of 2017, inspired by the monster US hit version co-created by Ellen DeGeneres which became the most watched new series of 2015/16.
11.9 million viewers watched the first episode across the pond and it was voted the number one unscripted series debut in over four years on non-cable TV.
In each hour-long show, Dawn greets each act and has a little chat with them before the budding stars head to the performance area on a revolving stage and show the audience and viewers what makes them stand out as a – yep, you guessed it – a little big shot.
What will happen in the first episode of the second series of Little Big Shots?
Viewers will meet four-year-old Marshall, a wannabe Guardsman who became a viral hit when he came face-to-face with a real life (and much bigger) version of himself.
Russian eight-year-olds Aleksei and Kamilla will demonstrate their jaw-dropping acrobatic act and the tap dancing trio of Haydn, Tilly and Harvey, all aged 12, will put their best feet forward.
Will, 11, and his dog Aston will prove it is possible to teach a dog new tricks with an agility act while Francis, Mackie and Kiefer from the Philippines impress with some show-stopping singing.
And there’s also Geneva from London, a little drummer girl who doesn’t miss a beat during her energetic performance.
What time is Little Big Shots on TV?
The first episode of the second series airs on ITV from Sunday, 22 April, at 7pm.
BBC One’s popular Countryfile is the main opposition in the same time slot, with coverage of the London Marathon on BBC Two and Escape to the Chateau on Channel 4.
What else has Dawn French appeared in on TV?
Now come on then, let’s be serious.
Dawn is one of the greatest comediennes in Britain entertainment circles and her 40 year partnership with Jennifer Saunders is among the most creative and hilarious in comedy full stop.
Together they have produced 48 episodes – with a further 12 specials – of their eponymous, innovative and barmy sketch comedy series, winning two Golden Rose of Montreux awards, a BAFTA and a BAFTA Fellowship.
They’ve also collaborated together on The Comic Strip Presents, Jam & Jerusalem and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, but their excellent association also paved the way for outstanding solo success.
And even though French & Saunders are one of the longest-running and most influential female comedy duos in showbiz, Dawn has possibly enjoyed her greatest popular success as Geraldine Granger, the affable Reverend surrounded by well meaning but ludicrous gaggle of parishioners in The Vicar of Dibley.
The gentle but side-splittingly funny sitcom bagged three British Comedy Awards, an NTA, two Emmys, six BAFTA TV nominations and was voted Britain’s Best Sitcom in 2004 across two series, ten specials and six charity shorts between 1994 and 2015.
What else has Dawn French been involved in on TV that we may have forgotten about?
Dawn’s breakthrough TV parts as part of an ensemble cast in the satirical The Comic Strip Presents and darkly comic Murder Most Horrid, lampooning murder mysteries, are underrated and worth revisiting – or discovering for the first time.
But are you familiar with her appearances in Kate Bush’s 1986 music video for the single Experiment IV?
Hugh Laurie also had a cameo in the Grammy-nominated short – but British fans didn’t have that many opportunities to see it – and Dawn’s performance – after the video was banned from Top of the Pops for being considered too violent.
Dawn, Jennifer and Kathy Burke also teamed up with Bananarama in 1989 to raise money for Comic Relief with a charity single covering Help by The Beatles. It reached number three in the charts.
And do you remember her uproarious 1997 Comic Relief collaboration with the Spice Girls where Dawn lovingly parodied Victoria Beckham?
Jennifer (as Geri Halliwell), Kathy (Mel C), Llewella Gideon (Mel B) and Helen Lederer (Emma Bunton) were also on hand to help complete ‘The Sugar Lumps’ line up.
Dawn’s complementary wiggling and pouting sparked a friendship that still continues 20 years later.
What about Dawn’s life away from showbiz?
Dawn was married to comedian Lenny Henry for 25 years after they met on the comedy circuit. They share one daughter, Billie.
Speaking about the former couple’s struggles to start a family before they adopted Billie, Dawn revealed how their daughter brought her incomparable joy.
She told the Sunday Telegraph: “I had grief for a while. I did have miscarriages, so I’ve had grief about that as well.
“But the minute Billie arrived that was it for me. She fills everything I need to be as a mother.”
Following her 2010 split from Lenny, Dawn married charity boss Mark Bignell in 2013, becoming a stepmother to his two children.
Dawn underwent a dramatic physical transformation after she began losing weight in 2011. However, the star made it clear health reasons were the motivation for her dieting – and she went on to shed an incredible seven stone.
“When you’re over 50 you have to pay attention to your health a bit,” she said to The Mirror in 2012.
“I have quite a lot of exciting adventures that I want to do, and I had just ballooned a bit more than I wanted to. I’ve never disliked myself, and my weight has had nothing to do with my self-esteem. I still refuse to dislike my old body.”
After being told she was at risk of uterine cancer, Dawn later opted to have a hysterectomy.
Losing weight to make a swifter recovery after keyhole surgery was another reason for her weight loss.
“I just did less eating and more exercising and I’ve kept that up. But I have more treats now,” she said.
“I’m not a big drinking person and hardly ever have alcohol. Perhaps it’s not sweet enough for my sweet tooth.”
The second series of Little Big Shots begins on ITV, Sunday 22 April at 7pm.
Did you enjoy the first series of Little Big Shots? Will be tuning in? Let us know what you think of the show and Dawn French by leaving us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix!