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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Channel 4 Gogglebox fans outraged over 'disgraceful' move after show cancelled on Friday

Gogglebox fans have been left furious after discovering the show has been moved from its usual slot. During each series, the hit Channel 4 show usually airs on a Friday at 9pm.

However, this week's episode, due to air on Friday, October 21, is being replaced with a one-off revival of the stand-up and entertainment show Friday Night Live. And in an unusual move, Channel 4 will instead air the brand new Gogglebox episode on Saturday night (October 22) at the same time.

The move is being made to celebrate 40 years of Channel 4. Ben Elton will be hosting a revival of the iconic show that aired on the network in the 1980s. The one-off 90-minute special will 'unite the hottest new wave stand-ups and character comedians alongside some original show legends in a dangerously live night of comedy', according to producers.

READ MORE: Channel 4 Gogglebox star Mica sends message to those 'trying to stay afloat' as she and Marcus thank fans for support after family loss

Some fans of the hit show had already noticed the change in the schedule, however the move was announced before Send Nudes: Body SOS on Wednesday night (October 19) when an announcer said: "It's one for your diary. Brand new Gogglebox isn't on its usual Friday night spot. Saturday at 9pm is your go-to for this week over on Channel 4."

Having previously spotted the change, @heyfifi fumed: "Absolute DISGRACE moving Gogglebox to a Saturday ….for a reboot of an old show that may or may not work in 2022…..crap move channel four ……crap move ……. @ch4 #gogglebox." @philearle said: "Can’t believe the news today. How dare they move Gogglebox to Saturday nights. Livid. Broken Britain."

@htbuk1992 complained: "Moving #Gogglebox to Saturday nights is a stupid idea. If you're gonna move it, Sunday and Thursday are the best choices. Do you actually want to kill off a great show, Channel 4?" @pjmeek wrote: "You can't move #Gogglebox to a Saturday night to make way for Ben Elton....." @IamR_Everson added: "Soooo #Gogglebox is changing from Friday to Saturday, @Channel4 that’s right when strictly and the voice are on so now can’t watch gogglebox so thanks for that."

Ben Elton will be on-screen instead with Friday Night Live (PA)

Ben Elton, 63, will act as compere for the TV stand-up show on Friday which will feature some of the future stars he introduced back in the ‘80s like Jo Brand, Harry Enfield and Julian Clary. Elton has also shared he would love to see a full-time return for the show, which began as Saturday Live in 1985 and ended as Friday Night Live in 1988.

"The show literally changed British entertainment because it basically invented the stand-up boom," the Irish Mirror reports him as saying. "When we started there were two clubs in London and the odd pub comedy night everywhere else. That was it. By the time we finished three years later, there were two clubs in every town in the country. I said to Channel 4, ‘You should think about doing it again because there’s never been an edgy, proper live cabaret since on the TV’. I mean, with respect to a show like Live at the Apollo, it’s not a live gig, it’s recorded."

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