Comedian Harry Hill will preside over two teams tasked with saving the planet from alien invasion in a new panel show, coming next year.

Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule tasks teams with finding anything that is fun or funny enough for Harry to place in a capsule that would convince aliens earthlings are worthy of saving.

Imagine this man in charge of saving the world from an alien invasion (Yui Mok/PA)
Imagine this man in charge of saving the world from an alien invasion (Yui Mok/PA)

Over a series of rounds, the two teams of two present him with their offerings before he decides what goes in.

Harry said: “It’s great to be back on ITV with an all-new format that finally tackles the problem of an imminent and prolonged war with space aliens, by proving to them that us humans are really a lot of fun to hang out with!”

Saskia Schuster, ITV’s comedy commissioning editor, added: “We’re really excited to have Harry back on ITV, and we’re confident that the human race will be safe in his hands with this brand new panel show packed with laughs, silliness and of course, fun.”

Harry Hill
Harry Hill has previously gone galactic as the host of the new Stars In Their Eyes (ITV)

Speaking at the Edinburgh International TV festival, Kevin Lygo, Director of Television at ITV, also announced a new sitcom from comedian Jack Dee, which will hit screens next year.

In a panel with broadcaster Kirsty Wark, Kevin was questioned about reports that ITV is trying to poach the BBC’s Great British Bake Off to add to the channel’s schedule.

He was dismissive, replying: “I would prefer EastEnders.”

On soaps that remain anchors for the broadcaster, he was equally evasive.

The Great British Bake Off
Kevin suggested ITV didn’t have their eyes on The Great British Bake Off (BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon)

Coronation Street will move from five to six episodes a week next year but he would not say where in the schedule the extra episode would go.

He said: “I’m obviously not going to tell you, it will be in a marvellous place. It won’t come until much later next year but one thing is for sure, I can’t muck about with Coronation Street.”

Kevin also stressed he would not be messing around with The X Factor, which returns to screens this weekend.

The X Factor
The new X Factor judging panel, starring Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell (Thames/Syco Entertainment)

He said: “The X Factor is still a wonderful show and an enormous hit.  When Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor launched, people didn’t think how long they would run for but they can run and run.

“It still gets eight or nine million viewers. I wish I had more problems like X Factor.”