Singer Mika launches variety show on RAI

(ANSA) - Rome, November 4 - British singer and songwriter Mika is set to launch a variety show in four episodes on Italy's RAI 2 public broadcaster starting November 15, sources said Friday.
    The show to be titled Stasera Casa Mika (House of Mika Tonight) will feature guests from the entertainment industry, spotlighting Italy as seen from the eyes of an artist who adopted it as his own.
    Mika has been a judge on the Italian version of TV talent show X Factor for the past three years. "I would have liked to have (the late) Dario Fo participate - I spoke with him at length about it and he planned to take part in this new television adventure," Mika said, referring to the iconic Italian actor and playwright who died at age 90 on October 13.
    "Unfortunately he can't take part physically, but he'll be everywhere during the show - especially the second episode," Mika promised.
    Some of the guests expected to visit the "house" of Mika with co-host Sarah Felberbaum include singer Malika Ayane, singer-songwriter Francesco Renga, and actors Monica Bellucci, Renzo Arbore, Marco Giallini and Gianmarco Tognazzi.
    "I wanted to create an intimate show, taking after the great variety shows of the past like those of Mina and Arbore, as well as characters like Ugo Tognazzi - he was a legend in my childhood in France, where I watched his movies with my grandmother," Mika said.
    Part of the show involves Mika crossing Italy in various roles, including becoming a taxi driver for a day in Naples, which he jokingly called "the most stressful day of my life".
    He said there would even be pyjama parties in Italian squares to celebrate the show.
    "I'm opening the doors to a house in which no one has to ask permission and where anything can happen," he said.
    "One of the things I learned from Dario Fo is that art generates tolerance," he said.