JLC can't watch Alan Carr on TV

Comedy chat show host Justin Lee Collins says that him and Alan Carr can't stand to watch each other on television when they're not working together.

Justin Lee Collins learns how to be a ballroom dancer in his new show

The pair are currently working on solo projects since finishing up on The Sunday Night Project and JLC explained why he avoids watching Alan.

He told Newsbeat: "We have a thing where I think we both feel it's best we don't watch each other's work when we're not working together. For the sake possibly of our friendship, it's probably best if we don't."

JLC thinks the whole thing might be in some way related to his mum's aversion to watching him on TV.

"My mum does not watch me on television, my dad is an entirely different kettle of fish - he loves it," he said.

"So if I'm on, my dad will be sat in the lounge at home watching me, my mum will go up to bed and read her book and my dad will shout up the stairs: 'That was a good bit! You're missing it - it's good tonight!'

'Like we're related'

"My mum cannot watch it because she feels for me and gets nervous for me and feels embarrassed for me sometimes!

JLC says Alan's one of his best friends in the world

"She just can't bear to watch it and I think that's how both Al and I feel about watching each other's stuff when we're doing something on our own.

"It's like we're related or something, it's weird."

Alan is currently hosting Chatty Man on Channel 4 whilst JLC is fronting a new six part series which sees him take on different roles from a wrestler, to a ballroom dancer.

Although the comedian isn't planning on a return to the Sunday Night Project just yet, he hasn't ruled out a reunion with Alan sometime in the future.

'Time is right'

He said: "The big thing to remember about me and Al is that we were never a double act.

"He's one of my best friends in the world, I have to say, and that won't change - but we come together to do this show and we both do other things… so we were never really a double act.

"It's not like The Two Ronnies splitting up years ago or Morecambe and Wise, we never really had that kind of relationship.

"We just come together to do this one thing. And we did a lot of it - we did about 8 series and over 70 episodes, so I think the time's probably right.

"That's not to say that it won't ever come back, it's certainly done for now but somewhere down the line if we were asked to do it again, or something like it, or maybe just something different… I would work with Al in a heartbeat because he's a joy."