Of all the shows Channel 5 could choose to get rid of, we don’t think Up Late With Rylan should be the one.
Yet bigwigs have decided to give it the old heave-ho after just one series.
This has probably come as a shock to the lofty presenter – as well as us – as Channel 5 boss Ben Frow had hinted that the chat show would make a return.
He said in September: “I think it was a great thing to do. He is a truly talented, amazing and very, very nice person.
“I was delighted we were able to pull it off. We’d been talking about it for months so it was great to do it.
“It will come back in some form or other, I’m not sure it will be stripped [across the week].
“It’s quite a tough gig but I really believe in Rylan.
“Going forward, I do think he’ll be one of the great talent entertainers of the country.”
The series ran at 11pm during May and June, Monday through Thursday and featured a mix of celeb guests each night.
But a source has now told The Sun: “Rylan’s show failed to pull in great ratings so bosses have decided to rest it.
“He enjoyed making it but unfortunately that’s where the show ends.”
Don’t worry, though, Rylan will rise like a Phoenix and continue to develop his career at the Channel.
A spokeswoman reassured: “Rylan is a great talent and we look forward to exploring new formats with him in the future.”
Phew. This news is bound to smart at this time, however, as Ry-Ry’s latest show – ITV’s teatime quiz Babushka – has been hit by criticism from viewers, who feel it is a poor replacement for The Chase.