Channel 4 has responded to claims it has been forced to axe several popular shows after ‘running out of money’.
Earlier today it was reported the channel were forced to delay and even axe some of its most popular shows. The channel were reportedly running out of money, despite paying their boss over a million pounds last year.
Staff had apparently described the situation at Channel 4 as a “bloodbath”.
Channel 4 to axe popular shows
Amongst the programmes apparently affected by the cuts are the channel’s controversial Naked Attraction, Friday night favourite The Last Leg and the reality series Four Weddings.
Naked Attraction is reportedly being scrapped entirely, as is the celebrity show Scared Of The Dark and medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics. Reality show Four Weddings, which was scheduled to make a return, has also apparently been axed. It is thought it will instead go ahead with an independent production company.
Meanwhile, one of Channel 4’s most successful shows, The Last Leg, could also be cut short to save money. A planned nine shows in next month’s new series has reportedly been reduced to just seven.
The cuts have been controversial, not least because the channel’s CEO received a salary of over a million last year. Her salary was even set to go up this year, but last week she declined the pay rise.
‘A bloodbath’
In light of recent events, Channel 4 staff are apparently unhappy.
An insider apparently told The Daily Mail: “Everyone is calling it a Channel 4 bloodbath.”
They explained: “At first everyone was in total shock when Four Weddings was cancelled. It’s almost unheard of that a show that is going really well is decommissioned, but as news started to spread, other shows were falling down too. They were told that [chief exec] Ian Katz had been looking at the channel’s entire output, and they were sorry but it had to happen because there was no money.”
They also claimed that in some cases staff were laid off with little warning.
“The casting team were already in place to start on Naked Attraction and were all told they were no longer needed as they were not making another series.”
Channel 4 responds to claims
Speaking out after the reports circulated, a channel representative told ED!: “Naked Attraction has not been decommissioned and a new series will return to Channel 4 next year.
“Scared of the Dark enjoyed a celebrated first season with excellent linear and streaming performance.”
They continued: “Channel 4 is in robust health – however like all commercial broadcasters we’re taking some precautionary measures – such as rephrasing some content and production – in response to a downturn in the ad-market.
“The vast majority of our shows have not been affected.”
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