Steph McGovern stated she was’very pleased’ at Channel 4 just days before the cancellation of Steph’s Packed Lunch.
It was revealed on Thursday that Steph’s weekday TV show had been cancelled, with a spokesperson for the broadcaster telling Metro.co.uk that they were ‘incredibly proud of all that Steph’s Packed Lunch has achieved since its launch from Steph’s living room during lockdown nearly four years ago’.
‘We’re so grateful to Steph, Expectation, Can Can and the brilliant production team for creating a show that kick started our growth in the north of England.’
They went on to praise Steph, 41, for making lunchtimes’more fun’ throughout the country.
‘Steph has not only made the nation’s lunchtimes more entertaining and brilliantly reflected the views and pre-occupations of the country, but the show has also been an outstanding springboard for developing local talent behind the scenes,’ they said.
While Steph has yet to comment on the axe, she recently stated that she was’very pleased’ at the broadcaster, while appearing to disregard the ‘elephant in the room’ on Friday’s show.
Steph was rumoured to be a successor for Holly Willoughby on This Morning after she stepped down, with Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson filling in.
Steph spoke on taking over as presenter of This Morning at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards on Wednesday, October 11 at London’s Roundhouse.
She told Mail Online: ‘I’m very happy at Channel 4, but never say never.’
The statement released by Channel 4 announcing that Steph’s show had been axed on Thursday read: ‘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 and we have decided not to recommission Steph’s Packed Lunch when its existing production contract ends in December 2023.
‘We remain as committed as ever to our mission to help level up the TV industry outside London and to our 50% origination out-of-London target.
‘We will be reinvesting the budget previously committed to Steph’s Packed Lunch into other nations and regions productions.’
Further explaining their decision not to recommission Steph’s Packed Lunch, Channel 4 outlined that the company has ‘almost 500 roles outside of London’, stating that ‘this will continue to increase over the next few years’.
‘We will continue to build on the legacy of the show, evolving what we do in line with our digital ambitions whilst continuing to reflect the lives of, and give a voice to, all our audiences across the UK and hope to work with Steph on other projects soon,’ they said.
Fans were perplexed during Friday’s programme when Steph, remaining professional, declined to address the shocking news.
Steph’s Packed Lunch, originally known as The Steph Show, debuted in March 2020, barely one week after the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown began.
Steph’s Packed Lunch will continue to air on Channel 4 until the current contract expires in December 2023.
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs weekdays from 12pm on Channel 4.
Source My Celebrity Life.