Alan Carr's got a new Channel 4 show set in a working class British social club

British comedian Alan Carr is working on a new Channel 4 entertainment programme, fuelling rumours that the broadcaster will pull the curtain down on his seven-year-old chat show "Alan Carr: Chatty Man."

TV industry sources tell us that Carr has teamed up with Hungry Bear Media, the production company behind BBC1's "Michael McIntyre's Big Show," to create a programme set in a traditional British social club.

The show, which is likely to run for four episodes in the build up to Christmas, is provisionally titled "Alan Carr's Social Club" and will celebrate the comedian's working class roots.

It will be loosely formatted, featuring a mix of star guests and music, and have a topical feel, with plans to film each episode close to when it airs on Channel 4.

Interestingly, sources close to the project said Channel 4 wants to broadcast "Alan Carr's Social Club" before the 9 p.m. watershed - the time at which British broadcasters are permitted to air more adult content. His existing show, "Chatty Man", broadcasts at 10 p.m..

A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed the details of Business Insider's story, but did not comment further.

Rumours "Alan Carr: Chatty Man" has been axed

Carr's new project has fuelled rumours that "Chatty Man" could be axed, but Channel 4 denied this is the case.

A TV source told Business Insider that "Chatty Man" will return at Christmas, but there is no firm commitment beyond this. Channel 4 could well persevere with the show next year if "Alan Carr's Social Club" is not successful.

"Chatty Man" was moved from Friday to Thursday nights earlier this year, where it averaged 837,700 viewers. This was down 44% on the previous series, which was watched by nearly 1.5 million.

"Chatty Man" is made by Open Mike Productions, which produces the majority of Carr's TV work. His decision to partner with Hungry Bear, which is backed by "Dragons' Den" star Peter Jones, also marks a change of direction for the comedian.