February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Northern Ireland-born Kielty, 33, is set to front “Deal Or No Deal” on ABC, the Sun newspaper reported last week.
The show, to be made by “Big Brother” producers Endemol, is expected to offer bigger cash prizes than “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” the Sun said.
Kielty is best known for co-hosting “Fame Academy” with Cat Deeley and the chat show “Patrick Kielty Almost Live.”
Kielty previously tried to break into the American market with a U.S. version of his BBC game show “Stupid Punts.” A pilot edition was made for ABC, but it was never turned into a series.
“I’m thrilled and can’t wait to get started,” Kielty told the Sun. “I just hope the Americans take to me.”
Kielty is the latest in a long line of UK TV personalities to cross the Atlantic. Others who have made it big on American TV include Anne Robinson, Simon Cowell and, Jamie Oliver.