The BBC has axed two celebrity-fronted prime time shows in a major programming shake-up in order to "make way for new shows".
The broadcaster confirmed that BBC One show Eat Well For Less has been cancelled, eight years on from its debut in 2015. Originally presented by Chris Bavin and Masterchef's Gregg Wallace, the show helped families across the UK save money on their food shop, with Britain's Got Talent star Jordan Banjo taking on a presenting role alongside Chris following Gregg's departure in 2021.
Shop Well For Less, presented by Melanie Sykes and Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, has also had the chop by the BBC, The Mirror reports. First hosted by Alex Jones and Steph McGovern, the money-saving show saw the presenters help households change the way they shop without changing their lifestyle, offering tips and tricks for viewers at home to save cash.
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A BBC spokesperson told TVZone: "Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions in order to make way for new shows and we currently have no plans to bring back Eat Well For Less or Shop Well For Less. We would like to thank the team at RDF West who produced both series, and presenters Chris Bavin and Jordan Banjo, and Joanna Page and Melanie Sykes, for all their hard work and enthusiasm bringing these shows to our screens."
The news comes just days after it was announced the BBC had axed the third instalment of their hit sci-fi drama Life on Mars. The show, starring John Simm and Philip Glenister, debuted in 2006 to huge critical acclaim, before a second instalment Ashes to Ashes was released in 2008 starring Keeley Hawes and ran for three series until 2010.
A third instalment - named Lazarus - had been announced back in 2020, but the show's creators Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah shared the disappointing news on Twitter that the project had been scrapped due to "financial hurdles". Graham said of the plans for the revived show: "It was a cracking concept - pertinent to our times.
"It had a whole new round of things to say about the relationship between the public and the police. And it was bloody funny too. But that as they say is showbiz baby."
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