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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daniel Bird

Channel 4 CANCEL fan favourite TV show bosses 'lose appetite' for dating programme

Flirty Dancing has been dropped by bigwigs at Channel 4 after the coronavirus pandemic saw them lose their "appetite" for the dancing show.

Having first appeared on screens back in 2019, the show has delivered two seasons as well as a special episode for Stand Up To Cancer but will no longer appear on British screens.

Ashely Banjo hoped to play Cupid with a group of singletons and hopefully help them find love through dance.

But after just two seasons, the show has been scrapped by bosses after the show became too complicated to film following the pandemic and various lockdowns.

Ashley Banjo's Flirty Dancing has been cancelled (Jonnie Makaxb (Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way) Channel 4 Picture Publicity, Horseferry Road, Lo)

According to sources, while the show may have been a firm fan favourite it presented too many challenges.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "Flirty Dancing was a brilliant show but when Covid hit it became too difficult to film.

"Once it was safe to go again, bosses decided the appetite for the show was over and Ashley was really busy working on other projects.

"Ashley ended up making loads of money off the show though as he sold it to America."

Ashley had previously sold the show to US TV bosses (Channel 4)

However, the series didn't take off in America and despite being created by Fox Broadcasting, it only survived one season and six episodes in 2020 before it was taken off the air.

While the first episode of the series kicked off with 3.46 million viewers, this soon changed with just over 930,000 people tuning in for the grand final on January 25, 2020.

Ashley has previously gushed over the show when it first launched, saying: "It's great to be able to meet people online and through apps, because they are right at your fingertips.

The show failed to takeoff Stateside and was dropped after one series ((Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way) Channel 4 Picture Publicity, Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2TX)

"We're able to connect with people in a way we wouldn't 20 years ago but at the same time, the cons are it's much more impersonal. People are just much more judgemental and throwaway."

He went on to add that Flirty Dancing would be completely different as the individuals spent around one week learning their routine before even meeting their romantic hopeful.

The news of the cancellation comes just weeks after Ashely responded to trolls who criticised him after sharing a message for his ex-wife on her birthday.

As Francesca celebrated her 36th birthday, Ashley gushed: "Happy birthday dude x," but fans soon slammed him for his comment.

He responded: "For those of you who wish to comment in outrage. This is what we've called each other for over a decade and a half. But your input is very much appreciated."

Channel 4 was approached for comment.

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