ITV shelve plans for new series of hit ITV singing show hosted by Olly Murs

24 June 2023 , 19:29

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ITV have reportedly decided to axe Starstruck after two series, with the show's host Olly Murs and judges Beverley Knight, Adam Lambert, Jason Manford and Shania Twain all being told about the decision (Image: ITV)

ITV have reportedly decided to shelve plans for a third series of Starstruck.

The hit show saw amateur singers turned into their favourite artists, similar to Stars In Their Eyes. However, it has been reported that the show has been axed ahead of a third series, which was expected to filmed later this year.

The show was hosted by Olly Murs, whilst the judges including Beverley Knight, Adam Lambert and Jason Manford. Shania Twain was a judge in the most recent series, replacing Sheridan Smith who judged the first series.

Starstruck aired on Saturday nights in a primetime slot but hasn't seen the same sort of success as The Masked Singer and Britain's Got Talent, which recently crowned controversial act Viggo Venn as the winner.

A source told the Daily Star on Sunday: "There were plans to film a new series this autumn and air it in 2024, but they have now been scrapped. The top bosses want to try a different show and see how it goes. Starstruck was popular, but it wasn’t as big as shows like Britain’s Got Talent and The Masked Singer, so it was always at risk of being sidelined for something else."

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Plans for a third series has been shelved (ITV)

An ITV spokesperson said: "Starstruck has been a successful new entertainment format for ITV1 and ITVX, consistently holding its slot in our schedules. We haven’t yet confirmed a third series but are in regular conversations with the show’s producers Remarkable."

The panel were joined by Shania this year, with Jason thrilled to see her on the show.

She said: "Shania seems to know everybody, so it’s, ‘Yes, I’ve had tea with Tom Jones’ or ‘I ate cheese with Taylor Swift ’. But it’s brilliant because it’s all genuine… it’s not crowbarring in a name-drop. It’s just her world. She’s such a laugh. She’s just so generous and fun. We’ve got on really well. It feels like a real privilege to get behind this incredible woman and get to know her."

Of his own time on the show, he added: "There’s times when I’m on the panel and thinking, ‘People are sitting at home going, ‘What’s he doing judging a singing show?' In between filming, I’ve had meetings to do a new musical.

"I’ve sung at the Royal Albert Hall recently with a 50-piece orchestra and I was the Hedgehog on The Masked Singer, so I’ve actually been on a singing show. I’ve started to feel worthy of my seat."

Jasmine Allday