ITV’s The Nightly Show is fast becoming a complete nightmare.
It’s been panned by critics and abandoned by viewers and now, Mel and Sue are rumoured to have jumped ship too.
The comedy pair were in final talks to present the show for five nights, but have now pulled-out.
ITV says it’s down to the funny couple’s hectic schedules – they are also presenting the BBC’s Let’s Sing And Dance for Comic Relief – but insiders claim their departure is due to the show’s very rocky start.
An ITV source said: “It looked as though it was all but finalised, but they never quite signed on the dotted line.
“Unfortunately the talks collapsed when they decided they couldn’t possibly make their diaries fit with ITV and have had to turn down the offer.”
But the inside-word is Mel and Sue had filmed a title sequence but were spooked by the complete panning the show got in its opening week, which was hosted by David Walliams.
Every week, a different celebrity becomes the host.
Walliams was being paid £50,000 a show but he failed to bring in the viewers and the critics gave proceedings a huge thumbs-down.
John Bishop, 50, is the host this week and, while the reaction to him has been warmer, the ratings are still low.
Will the next host, Davina McCall do any better? Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, Mel and Sue have definitely told the show’s producers to bake-off!
That leaves an even more deflated celebrity soufflé for the casting team, who are now reportedly dashing about to find a replacement.
Other big names set to front it during its eight-week run are Gordon Ramsay and Bradley Walsh.
Dermot O’Leary is also signed to fill the hot seat after Davina, so the channel isn’t pulling any punches with its line-up.
If these A listers can’t get the ratings up, then they’re either not as good as we’re told they are or the format is plain awful.
Or perhaps viewers are just disgruntled that the show has bumped the News at Ten to a 10.30pm slot?
ITV have released a statement about Mel and Sue’s jump overboard, saying: “Mel and Sue were never signed to present The Nightly Show.
“The production team undertook discussions with them about the possibility of presenting a week but due to their hectic schedule this wasn’t possible.”