[Arneldo]

Davina's TV chat show gets the axe
By CLEMMIE MOODIE and MATT BORN, Daily Mail 08:00am 5th April 2006

She was trumpeted as the BBC's replacement for Michael Parkinson.

But having lost more than a million viewers since her Wednesday night chat show began in February, Davina McCall will not be given a second series.

News of its demise comes a day after the presenter, who has two daughters with husband Matthew Robertson, confirmed rumours that she is four months pregnant.

She said: "I was very nervous about the news coming out before my 12-week checkup. But the scan was fine so I can let it all hang out which, believe you me, I will be. I balloon when I'm pregnant - or it's what people politely call 'blooming'."

It is understood the BBC's decision not to commission another series of Davina was made before the Big Brother host revealed she was pregnant.

B-list celebrity guests and Miss McCall's abrasive style of presenting have contributed to BBC1 recording its lowest ever mid-week viewing figures.

No return

Although a formal decision on the show's future will be taken only when the eight-part series ends in a week's time, insiders confirmed it would not return.

"The 8pm slot she's in is very, very tough," said a source. "She's up against Coronation Street on ITV and Davina knew that from the outset.

"It's difficult to see how we could change the format and it won't be moved to another slot.

"To make matters worse, since it got off to such a bad start, celebrities aren't exactly clamouring to appear - like they do with Jonathan Ross or Parky. They don't want to be associated with failure.

"To her credit, Davina has settled in and improved as a host. She's pretty realistic about the show's fate but is glad that she gave it a go."

The broadcaster, believed to have been paid £150,000 for the series, was the first woman to host a peaktime chatshow for the BBC.

Despite a slight improvement in the ratings last week, overall viewing figures have so far been dismal.

When the corporation announced their latest signing last year, a spokesman likened her to Michael Parkinson, who defected to ITV1 in 2004 in protest at plans to shunt him out of his 10pm slot.

But while 71-year-old 'Parky's' decidedly A-list guests have included Tony Blair, Madonna, Sir Elton John and Joan Collins, Miss McCall has interviewed some slightly less illustrious names.

Eamonn Holmes, Irish comedian Ed Byrne, ex-Eastenders actress Michelle Collins, singer Cindi Lauper and Iranian comic Omid Djalili are just a few of those to have graced the Davina sofa.

Miss McCall's last BBC show, He's Having A Baby, was also pulled after one season.

The Mail