The BBC has reportedly cancelled a much loved quiz show reboot following a pilot last month.
Friends Like These, which first aired in 1999, was set to make a comeback with Alison Hammond and Vernon Kay at the reigns.
Yet the broadcaster has now decided to not pursue a full series, reports say.
The original show, which was hosted by Ant and Dec, saw two teams of best friends compete over a series of challenges for the chance to win a dream holiday.
It ran up until 2003 on the BBC, after Ian Wright took over as host in 2001.
“Bringing back Friends Like These seemed a no-brainer but bosses felt it wasn’t the right time, as the light entertainment schedule is just so packed," a TV insider told The Sun.
“It’s no reflection on either Alison or Vernon, who did a sterling job as hosts. There’s hope it could be reignited further down the line.”
The Mirror has contacted the BBC for comment.
TV favourite Alison Hammond, 48, recently announced her new role as host on Great British Bake Off.
She will present the Channel 4 hit alongside Noel Fielding, after Matt Lucas stepped down.
Despite her experience presenting on This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary, Alison still had to show Bake Off bosses she could rise to the challenge before securing the role.
Alison had to interview members of the public in a garden centre to show off her people skills.
She told The Sun: “They made me interview random strangers, to obviously see if I’m good with different people. It was a weird audition.”
The former Strictly star said she had to keep her new role secret for three weeks, but did tell her son Aiden, 18.
Confirming the news of her new role on Twitter, Alison tweeted: “It’s Official!! It’s happening The Great British Bake off! let’s have it – The cake that is so excited @BritishBakeOff @Channel4 @PrueLeith @PaulHollywood @noelfielding11 #GBBO.“
Matt revealed in December he was stepping down from the presenting role after appearing in the last three series as he could no longer commit to the programme’s schedule alongside his other projects.
Former GBBO judge Mary Berry wished Alison well in her role but admitted she won’t be tuning in to find out.
The chef was a judge on the show alongside Paul Hollywood, but quit when it moved to Channel 4 in 2016.
Mary, 87, said: "I had seven wonderful years at Bake Off and it’s a wonderful format. It gets people and children cooking.
"I don’t actually watch it, because you can imagine, being married to me, there’s a lot of food about, so we don’t watch much cooking on telly.”
She added of Alison: “I hope that she’s very good. They’ve had a good swap around since I left. But they are all good, and they bring a different way of life to the Bake Off."
