ITV reportedly tried to ‘poach’ Gogglebox from Channel 4 earlier this year when the show was’mid-contract,’ which would have upended the UK television landscape.
It’s no secret that successful shows frequently change stations, with The Great British Bake Off moving from the BBC to Channel 4, and Gladiators returning to the BBC rather than ITV.
And it has now been revealed that ITV submitted a proposal for Gogglebox just months after the corporation claimed it was ‘actively considering’ a prospective attempt to purchase All3Media, the production firm behind the programme and others such as The Traitors.
According to Deadline, the deal for Gogglebox typically extended “approximately every three years,” but ITV managing director Kevin Lygo contacted the show “mid contract.”
According to the article, Gogglebox will remain on Channel 4 indefinitely.
The hit reality show, which stars best friends Jenny and Lee, sisters Ellie and Izzi, and The Malone Family, has won numerous awards in recent years, including the factual award at the National Television Awards 2021 and the reality and constructed factual award at the Bafta TV awards the following year.
Meanwhile, in the celebrity spin-off, Rylan Clark and Shaun Ryder have transformed into TV sofa reviewers.
This comes after ITV was left fuming after accusing the BBC of ‘poaching’ talent such as Holly Willoughby and Paddy McGuinness.
ITV sources have slammed the Beeb, claiming that the company is concerned about a “licencing fee revolt” in the north and is ready to bring in fresh talent who are more sympathetic to viewers.
‘Most of their TV stars are southern and perhaps a bit posh – a bit Radio 4,’ one ITV insider alleged.
‘They are obsessed with youth and ITV does much better than them on 16-34-year-old viewers. Plus they have an issue in the north where their viewing is bad and they worry about a licence fee rebellion.’
In recent weeks, the BBC has launched a fresh slate of TV programmes using ITV talents, including a new game show starring Holly from This Morning and Bradley Walsh from The Chase.
This follows the moves of Take Me Out presenter Paddy and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon to the BBC for series like Top Gear and The Greatest Dancer.
Speaking to The Mirror, the insider added: ‘It would be nice if they could find some of their own stars and not just come poaching for ours.
‘Holly and Bradley are firmly associated with ITV in the eyes of the viewers – and long may they stay that way.’
Gogglebox is available to watch on All4.
Gogglebox
Source My Celebrity Life.
