[michael21]

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...032953.article

ITV1 has called time on Paul O’Grady’s primetime chat show – ending the host’s second spell with the commercial broadcaster.

Broadcast understands that ITV will not commission another series of Paul O’Grady Live after it underperformed in the ratings. Industry sources have also suggested the show “was not a happy ship” and that O’Grady had been eyeing the exit door.

The presenter was not tied in to a lengthy contract when he returned to ITV from Channel 4 in 2009, and the show was commissioned on a rolling basis.

It is thought the third series was originally pencilled in to be produced by O’Grady’s indie Olga TV at The London Studios next year, but the booking has now been cancelled.

Paul O’Grady Live averaged a consolidated audience of 3.7 million (14% share) over its first run in 2010, while this year’s series dropped to 3.3 million viewers.

It is understood that ITV has not shut the door to working with O’Grady again. His agent and Olga were unavailable for comment.

It is the second time ITV and O’Grady have parted company after the presenter left under a cloud to join C4 in 2006. He said the broadcaster’s executives at the time, including former director of television Simon Shaps, ignored him and took him for granted.

[RichardWells]

What a shame.

I love Paul O'Grady and loved his talk show in the daytime and also his evening show.

Be great if he could go back to the 5pm slot.

[Smithy]

[arista]

Originally Posted by RichardWells

What a shame.

I love Paul O'Grady and loved his talk show in the daytime and also his evening show.

Be great if he could go back to the 5pm slot.

The is Another story
He left Ch4 as they wanted his Staff Team Cut.


ITV is stripping Staff Down
Paul will not allow his staff to be sacked,
he says he needs them for each show.


But Other Shows have taken reductions.


Sign Of The Times.

[Visage]

I always enjoyed his show and that he was a great interviewer as well as presenter.

[Chuck]

Such an iconic show

[Callum]

His Channel 4 chat show was better than his ITV1 one which is surprising seeing as ITV have a much bigger budget, I'm not surprised to see it go at all, the ratings were always pretty bad.

[Tom]

His show went rubbish when ITV axed it the first time

I hated how he just used to have his mates on like Priscilla White or Peggy Mitchel and they'd just talk about the time they woke up in a skip or something

It didn't even change when he moved to Friday nights. BBC1 and Channel 4 would get people like Rihanna on Graham Norton and Alan Carr but he just stuck with his usual guests

[arista]

Originally Posted by Callum

His Channel 4 chat show was better than his ITV1 one which is surprising seeing as ITV have a much bigger budget, I'm not surprised to see it go at all, the ratings were always pretty bad.

Of Course bigger budget on Ch4 back then.



Times have changed.