Channel 4 axes The Big Breakfast reboot amid spending cuts

Channel 4 has axed yet another popular TV show following a recent spate of cancellations amid budget cuts.

The Big Breakfast – which was rebooted last year following fan demand – was reportedly shelved by the broadcaster after just one series. TV zone reports.

The iconic 1990s show, originally hosted by Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, got a makeover last summer with AJ Odudu and Mo Gilligan at the helm.

The duo had staged a one-off special for Channel 4’s Black To Front project in 2021, but were given the role for good after fans begged Channel 4 to bring the series back permanently.

The news will be a major blow to host Mo as it is the second show he is involved in that has been axed by the broadcaster.

It was revealed last week That The Big Narstie Show is just around the corner after its fifth series.

Starring comedian Mo alongside rapper Big Narstie, the BAFTA-winning show launched in 2018 and stars comedy skits as well as musical performances.

The broadcaster has decided not to renew the show for its sixth series as part of a period of growth.

Recently, The Mail on Sunday revealed that the channel’s staff are calling it a “carnage,” as shows like big-money celebrities, Scared Of The Dark, and the groundbreaking medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics and The Big Blow Out have all been scrapped. .

In a statement, a spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline: ‘The decision not to re-commission a sixth series of The Big Narstie Show is not part of our response to the challenges in the advertising market.

“We are extremely proud of the five series we have created from this innovative Bafta-winning show, but we need to look closely at what we are commissioning each year to ensure we continue to innovate and offer viewers a varied programme.

“We look forward to working with Dice, Expectation and Big Narstie on other projects in the future.”

It comes as the latest cancellation in a long line of canned TV shows as bosses try to cut costs.

The Mail on Sunday recently revealed that the channel’s staff are calling it a “bloodbath,” as shows like the big-money celebrity flop, Scared Of The Dark, and the groundbreaking medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics and The Big Blow Out are all deleted.

The highly publicized return of the reality series Four Weddings has also been scrapped, although a team from an independent production company was commissioned to make it.

Staff on permanent contracts to work on the program were immediately fired, and some are now worried about how they will pay their rent.

Friday night favorite The Last Leg, one of the channel’s most popular shows hosted by Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, will cut the length of the next series to save money.

The 28th series returns this month for a nine-week run, but production bosses have been told the channel can afford to have it on the air for just seven weeks.

Channel 4 has instructed lawyers to make deals with heads of production companies to secure contracts for shows worth millions of pounds, meaning it has been left with expensive legal bills and exit fees.

The crisis comes after Ms Mahon and her colleague Ian Katz rejected a government plan to privatize the company, citing as one of their arguments that it finances independent manufacturing companies across the country.

A source told The Mail on Sunday that the channel believes it is better to cut losses. But staff blame Mr Katz for wasting money on expensive but little-watched shows like the reality series Rise And Fall, which reportedly cost the channel £14 million – money that couldn’t be justified due to low ratings.

An insider said: ‘Everyone is calling it a Channel 4 massacre.

‘At first everyone was in shock when Four Weddings was cancelled.

“It’s almost unheard of for a show that’s going really well to be shut down, but as word started to spread, other shows dropped out as well.

“They were told that Ian Katz had watched the channel’s entire output and they were sorry, but it had to be done because there was no money.

“The casting team was already there to start Naked Attraction and were all told they were no longer needed as they were not making another series.

“They tried to soften the blow to the show’s freelance crew by saying they hope to do another series in December, but that’s no use to them right now.”

Despite reports that Naked Attraction had been cancelled, a Channel 4 representative denied this, saying ‘Naked Attraction has not been discontinued and a new series will return to Channel 4 next year.

Scared of the Dark enjoyed a celebrated first season with excellent linear and streaming performance.

“Channel 4 is in good health, but like all commercial broadcasters, we are taking some precautions – such as reformulating some content and production – in response to a downturn in the advertising market.

“The vast majority of our shows have not been affected.”

Mahon and Katz announced last week that they have postponed receiving bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and scrapped a planned pay rise in the midst of the crisis.

However, a Channel 4 staffer said, “Only because I had to.”

A spokesperson for the network said: “Channel 4 cares deeply about the Indie community and our wider supply chain of freelancers. They are the beating heart of our company.

“While we recognize that the actions we are asking of some will cause short-term pain, the plan we have underlines our continued commitment to our financial sustainability and our continued support for the UK’s independent manufacturing sector.

“The executives have already decided to postpone retention payments and declined a salary increase earlier this year as part of a broader response to a very difficult advertising market in the second quarter, which all commercial broadcasters are facing.”