[Tom]

Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the telly again, Noel Edmonds’ House Party is set to return to the BBC – and Mr Blobby will be back too.

Edmonds has been sounded out about a one-off special by Beeb bosses. And a source close to the talks said if negotiations go well a Saturday night series could be in the offing.

The source said: “It was a softly, softly approach because of the fall-out after the show was axed in 1999. The BBC, though, is

determined to make it happen.”

The corporation is crying out for a Saturday night ratings winner to plug the hole left by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Any Dream Will Do.

With Dale Winton’s Hole in the Wall pulling in disappointing figures, BBC bosses believe a return to the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom may be the answer.

There are problems, though. Edmonds is tied to Channel 4 during the week with Deal or No Deal. He also enjoys a good relationship with Sky One controller Richard Woolfe, who signed him up to do Noel’s HQ and Are You Smarter Than A 10-Year-Old.

The source said: “Noel loves working at Sky and it would take an unbelievable offer to consider him leaving altogether.

“However, there is definitely scope for him doing a one-off House Party special. Anything beyond that is up to the BBC.”

Noel’s House Party, which went out live on Saturday evenings, was a massive hit in the early to mid-90s.

Mr Blobby became a household name, while Gotchas, Grab a Grand, Cash for Questions and The Gunge Tank helped pull in 16.5 million viewers at the show’s height.

But after 169 shows it was axed as viewing figures dropped to 6.5 million in the last 18 months of its eight-year run.

Edmonds was furious with then BBC1 controller Peter Salmon. He said at the time: “I refuse to be seen as somebody who has been axed by Salmon. He axed the shows, but he can’t axe the man.”

And he even ridiculed the BBC for paying him £1.8million for “doing nothing” as his contract was allowed to run out.

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