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Neil Patrick Harris has been confirmed as the host for a new US version of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway .
The US actor, known for playing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother and, most recently, Desi Collings in box office hit Gone Girl
NBC revealed this week that the as-yet-untitled ten-episode series will include "comedy sketches, musical numbers, mini game shows, hidden camera pranks on celebrities and appearances by A-list stars".
Harris said in a statement that he "couldn't stop smiling" while watching the show. "Now that I've seen many seasons, my face hurts," he added. "Nothing like this has been done before and its unique structure fits right into my random skill set. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and have some fun!"
No premiere date has been announced as yet, but Harris' show will not air on Saturdays or take the same name as the British ITV hit.
Harris has demonstrated his hosting skills before, when he acted as emcee for the Emmy and Tony Awards.
Earlier this month, he was announced as host for the 2015 Oscars , following in the footsteps of Ellen DeGeneres, Seth MacFarlane , Hugh Jackman and Billy Crystal.
Show all 11 1 /11Oscars hosts through the ages Oscars hosts through the ages Neil Patrick Harris Harris made jokes about the lack of diversity at the 2015 Oscars including welcoming 'Hollywood's best and whitest...I mean brightest'.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Ellen DeGeneres The talk show host has fronted the Academy Awards twice, first in 2007 and then in 2014. She is generally viewed as a 'safe pair of hands' for the show and was brought back following Seth Macfarlane's controversial turn. She was also responsible last year for the first Oscars 'selfie'.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Seth MacFarlane The Family Guy creator was one of the most controversial hosts in the history of the Academy. His song about 'boobs' hit a bum note in some areas of the establishment and he managed to offend just about everybody.
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Oscars hosts through the ages James Franco and Anne Hathaway Co-presenters James Franco and Anne Hathaway decided to swap clothes in just one of many skits during the 83rd annual Academy Awards. Sadly for them the pairing was not a critical success with Franco accused of looking a bit vacant while Hathaway struggled manically to keep things ticking over.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Billy Crystal After Bob Hope, the record for hosting the most Oscars ceremonies is held by Crystal. His rein over the Academy spans the 90s but he most recently pitched up to host in 2012. The New Yorker also famously provided the voice for Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Steve Martin and Alex Baldwin These two might have had chemistry as rivals for Meryl Streep's affections in It's Complicated, but as Oscars hosts things were a little bit awkward. The pair's turn in 2010 produced some friendly joshing with the actors in the audience, but their thunder was well and truly stolen by this year's host Neil Patrick Harris opening the show in fine tradition with an elaborate musical number.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Steve Martin The beloved American comic and bluegrass musician hosted the Oscars solo in 2001 and 2003. The fact that he was invited back again to co-host with Baldwin means things went pretty well.
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Oscars hosts through the ages Jon Stewart Perhaps surprisingly the deadpan American TV personality was dismissed by some critics as a 'pretty conventional' Oscars host. However, Variety was more complimentary, saying he 'earned his keep by maintaining a playful, irreverent tone throughout the night.'
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Oscars hosts through the ages Johnny Carson The Tonight Show host and comic actor hosted the Academy Awards five times in the 1960s and '70s. He is cited as a major influence by David Letterman and set the blueprint for American talk show host styles for decades.
Oscars hosts through the ages Jack Lemmon Having famously starred as Marilyn Monroe's cross-dressing beau in Some Like It Hot, Lemmon was both a four time Oscars host and recipient of the Best Actor gong for 1972 film Save the Tiger. He also took the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1956 for Mister Roberts, becoming one of the few actors to win both (others include Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Spacey, and Denzel Washington).
Oscars hosts through the ages Whoopi Goldberg The actress and TV personality was only the second woman in the history of the Academy to win an Oscar. The Ghost and Sister Act star was later invited to host the show and was such a hit she was invited back three more times.
Harris, 41, writes openly about coming to terms with his sexuality in his recently-released memoir, Choose Your Own Autobiography .
He married his partner, David Burtka, in September and they became parents to twins Gideon and Harper in 2010.
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