Channel 4 has confirmed the cancellation of Steph’s Packed Lunch.
‘With audience habits changing quicker than ever, we have to make difficult decisions about which programmes to invest in to best drive our digital-first strategy and we have decided not to recommission Steph’s Packed Lunch when its existing production contract ends in December 2023’ the broadcaster said in a statement.
‘We remain as committed as ever to our mission to help level up the TV industry outside London and to our 50% origination out-of-London target.
‘We will be reinvesting the budget previously committed to Steph’s Packed Lunch into other nations and regions productions.’
In a statement, a Channel 4 spokeperson said that they were ‘incredibly proud of all that Steph’s Packed Lunch has achieved since its launch from Steph’s living room during lockdown nearly four years ago’.
‘We’re so grateful to Steph, Expectation, Can Can and the brilliant production team for creating a show that kick started our growth in the north of England.’
They went on to praise Steph, 41, for making lunchtimes’more fun’ throughout the country.
‘Steph has not only made the nation’s lunchtimes more entertaining and brilliantly reflected the views and pre-occupations of the country, but the show has also been an outstanding springboard for developing local talent behind the scenes,’ they said.
Further explaining their decision not to recommission Steph’s Packed Lunch, Channel 4 outlined that the company has ‘almost 500 roles outside of London’, stating that ‘this will continue to increase over the next few years’.
‘We will continue to build on the legacy of the show, evolving what we do in line with our digital ambitions whilst continuing to reflect the lives of, and give a voice to, all our audiences across the UK and hope to work with Steph on other projects soon,’ they said.
Steph’s Packed Lunch, originally known as The Steph Show, debuted in March 2020, barely one week after the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown began.
Because of the pandemic’s impact, it began broadcasting straight from Steph’s house before being dubbed Steph’s Packed Lunch after a brief pause.
Steph was overjoyed when she learned that the show had been nominated for a Bafta in March of last year.
A few months later, the host got a smear test live on the show to urge people not to be shy about getting cervical screenings.
While Steph is yet to speak out about the terrible blow, fans have voiced their sadness about the closure of Steph’s Packed Lunch at the end of this year.
‘I really don’t understand @Channel4 #StephsPackedLunch is a great show and axing it is stupid. You extended the show because you had sod all else put on other than repeats of come bloody dine with me! A decision I think channel 4 will regret. Now we get repeats,’ one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Gutted @PackedLunchC4 I think this show is brilliant – a real loss that it’s going ☹️,’ someone else remarked.
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs on Channel 4.
