Meatloaf slams ITV shows

The singer angered bosses after he criticised Dancing on Ice...

18:27 12 January 2010

Singer Meatloaf has openly criticised ITV shows Dancing on ice and I'm a Celeb, it has been reported.

The star, who is a critic for new show 'Popstar to Operastar' by the same broadcaster, launched into a tirade slamming ITV's biggest shows.

Speaking of Dancing on Ice which has just launched its new series, the 'Bat Out of Hell' star said: "I was watching - and I dunno how - this Skating With The Stars thing. I mean, what the f*** is that? Seriously, what are these people doing? They all take it sooo seriously."

He went on to say: "And I was over here in a taxi and I said to the driver, 'What happened to that awful I'm A Celebrity?' He said it was still a big show, and I said, 'That is horrifying. It is just a thing for Ant and Dec to make money'. True story - 30 minutes later an email came and asked me to do I'm A Celebrity, but I said no. I am picky."

ITV had revealed Meatloaf, real name Michael Aday, as a "charismatic and larger than life" judge on the new show, but the 62-year-old spent most of the launch event in London attacking ITV's most popular programmes.

A source told The Mirror: "This will not go down well with ITV's top brass. Meat Loaf is entitled to his opinions, but the timing's really bad.

"He was there to talk about 'Popstar To Operastar'."

The series in which eight chart acts try to perform opera classics after eight weeks' training, begins on Friday 15.

Mylene Klass is joined by Ground Force's Alan Titchmarsh to present the show, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and mentors opera beauty Katherine Jenkins and tenor Rolando Villazon complete the panel.