Introduction:
Channel 4 has announced the cancellation of Steph’s Packed Lunch after just three years on the air. The show, hosted by Steph McGovern, will come to an end in December.
Reason for cancellation:
The broadcaster said in a statement that it was making the decision due to changing audience habits. “With audience habits changing quicker than ever, we have to make difficult decisions about which programmes to invest in to best drive our digital-first strategy,” the statement read.
Impact on cast and crew:
Cast and crew have been informed that the last show will air in December.
Potential next move for Steph McGovern:
Last month, ITV’s This Morning poached Channel 4’s exec producer Vivek Sharmar, who worked alongside Steph. Vivek is reportedly “a huge champion” of Steph, meaning the star is now in the running to take over from Holly Willoughby.
Other cancellations:
The axe comes amid a slew of cancellations with the broadcaster reportedly battling to cut costs amid financial challenges.
Controversial cult late-night show Naked Attraction, big-money celebrity flop Scared Of The Dark and groundbreaking medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics, based in Scotland, have all been canned.
Staff blame Chief Content Officer:
Staff blame Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz, for wasting money on expensive but little-watched shows such as reality series Rise And Fall, which is understood to have cost the channel £14million – money which could not be justified because of its low ratings.
Conclusion:
The cancellation of Steph’s Packed Lunch is a significant blow to Channel 4, as it was one of its most popular daytime shows.
It remains to be seen how the broadcaster will fill the gap in its schedule.