ITV viewers were treated to another television appearance from powerhouse actress Sheridan Smith, as she joined the judging panel on the new singing competition Starstruck on Saturday.
The brand ITV singing competition, presented by Olly Murs, has drawn comparisons to Stars In Their Eyes, as it sees contestants transform into their musical idols for a performance.
The contestants are sized up by the judging panel of singer Adam Lambert, comedian Jason Manford, recording artist Beverly Knight and Sheridan Smith.
Starstruck fans were slightly surprised to see the 40-year-old actress hitting screens again - after performances in dramas No Return and The Teacher in recent weeks - and took to Twitter to poke fun at her as “the hardest working woman alive”.
One viewer wrote: “Is Sheridan Smith gonna start reading the news soon - only thing she ain’t been in #starstruck”
Another social media user wrote: “Sheridan Smith is on TV more than the adverts #Starstruck” alongside a crying laughing emoji.
Another tweeted: “Rumour has it you are never more than 20mins away from a show with Sheridan Smith in it. #starstruck # itv #sheridansmith”
A third wrote: “Sheridan Smith may be on nearly everything at the minute, but she is brilliantly talented, so why not? #Starstruck”
Another viewer wrote: “Sheridan Smith’s agent must be the hardest working woman alive #starstruck”
A fellow viewer joked: “Good to see Sheridan Smith back on our screens tonight after a long absence. Haven't seen her on tv for at least an hour and a half.”
Another theorised Sheridan could be in the running to one day host The Chase given her ubiquity, writing: “The Teacher. No Return. Now #starstruck ... £50 says Sheridan Smith takes over from Bradley [Walsh] when he calls it a day, she's everywhere”
ITV viewers also criticised the new singing competition, as many compared it unfavourably to 90s talent show Stars in Their Eyes.
But the show is being likened to 90s show Stars In Their Eyes, which premiered in 1990 and was on the air until December 2006.
ITV viewers took to Twitter to call for the original Stars in Their Eyes to return to screens, as opposed to the “rip off” version.
One wrote: “If I had created Stars in their Eyes I'd be suing #Starstruck for robbing all the good ideas.”
Another viewer said: “Okay I’m gonna try #Starstruck but to be honest I’ve no idea why they couldn’t have just brought Stars In Their Eyes back”
A third wrote: “Wish we could have just had regular Stars in their Eyes back instead of this tbh. Why does everything need a judging panel nowadays!?”
