Steph's Packed Lunch host Steph McGovern snubs show's axe as she breaks silence
Steph McGovern has broken her silence after it was announced her Channel 4 lunchtime show, Steph's Packed Lunch, has been axed after three years on air – opting to ignore the news as she opened her show today.
The 41-year-old's daytime chat show is set to come to an end in December while budget for the show will now be reallocated to other productions on Channel 4. Following the announcement, Steph appeared on her lunchtime show as normal.
After the opening credits rolled, Steph ignored the news as she introduced the show and gave viewers a lowdown of what to expect on Friday's programme. "Welcome to a very packed lunch Friday at Leeds Dock," she began in a chirpy tone.
"Now, later we'll be having a chat with 11-year-old George who had to deliver his baby sister, he's the son of out Lunchmate Danny and step-mum Sophie, they've got the baby with them!," she said. Steph then added: "Also on the show we're back with Between the Sheets with Naked Attraction's Anna Richardson to solve more relationship dilemmas."
Channel 4 Steph's Packed Lunch host Steph McGovern ignores show's axing as she breaks silenceAs she continued to give a lowdown of the day's programming schedule, viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to react to Steph ignoring the news of the show's axing. One said: "No mention of the elephant in the room on #StephsPackedLunch .... very weird".
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While another predicted Steph was aware of the news before the announcement and teased she could make a move over to ITV: "#stephspackedlunch probably well aware it was going to happen, see if she turns up on This Morning".
Channel 4 announced their decision to axe the programme in a statement shared on Thursday, October 19. It read: "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. However, 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.
Steph’s Packed Lunch host Steph McGovern's show is being axed after three years (Channel 4 / Tom Barnes)"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.
"We have almost 500 roles outside of London and 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."
Steph's Packed Lunch first debuted in 2020, and features items including showbiz interviews, food, news, and consumer advice and is broadcast from Leeds Dock. The programme has welcomed a number of celebrity guests to its set including Katie Price, Anton Du Beke, Denise van Outen, and Greg Wise.
As news of the axing was released, fans took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to react to the announcement. One wrote: "What are we supposed to watch now , never in a million years will I watch this morning ever again , I love stephs packed lunch hope channel 5 take it over , finger crossed". [sic]
Another added: "How is Stephs Packed Lunch getting axed yet Loose Women is still going?! Make it make sense". And a third penned: "Really, really don't get this at all! Stephs packed lunch is good! Why stop a good thing! What exactly are you making way for? Shocking!"
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