[JohnnyBB]

SOME of Channel 4’s top stars fear the axe as the crisis-hit network announced plans to slash at least £60million from its programme budget.

Senior sources claimed last night all its programmes, except Big Brother, are facing savage cuts.

The public service broadcaster also warned its top stars that they could expect big salary cuts of up to 20%, or even be axed if their shows fail to deliver.

Those who could be affected include chat hosts Alan Carr, 32, Justin Lee Collins, 34, and Paul O’Grady, 53, plus long-serving newsreader Jon Snow, 61.

Property experts like Kevin McCloud, 49, Kirstie Allsopp, 35, Phil Spencer, 39, and Sarah Beeny, 37, also face the prospect of their contracts being cut or frozen when they are renegotiated.

Profitable shows like Location, Location, Location and Grand Designs will escape the axe, as will a slimmed-down Channel 4 Racing.

But budgets will be slashed and there will be more repeats or so-called “re-visits” for property shows.

The future could be bleak for revamped Countdown after a ratings slump. The grim news came as Channel 4’s chief executive Andy Duncan launched its annual report.

He unveiled plans to axe an extra 10% from the network’s £600m editorial budgets as it battles falling advertising revenues.

The channel expects ad income to fall by 18% in the first half of 2009.

Mr Duncan, 46, said programme budgets had to be slashed as they had already made “significant” savings to staff numbers, marketing and other overheads.

He said: “We are facing the worst economic conditions in our history. The impact on us is the thick end of £100million. It will impact on programme content.”

Big Brother will escape the cuts because it is two-thirds of the way into a three-year deal with makers Endemol.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: “We do not discuss individual contracts but it is fair to say every programme and every presenter will be judged on their merits.”

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view...tars-face-axe/