TV
ITV have axed Blind Date for good, according to the Star on Sunday today.
Cilla Black stepped down at the end of last series after eighteen years of fronting the show. At the time, programme makers Granada insisted that the show would be back with a new host -- rumours tipped the likes of Claire Sweeney, Davina McCall or Melanie Sykes for the role.
Now Granda have decided to ditch it for good after being refused permission to make changes to the show's format by Columbia, the US company which owns BlInd Date.
"The official line is that it has been rested and will be tinkered with," a source told the newspaper. "But Columbia have said that they won't allow any tinkering. As it is, the format is a bit tired and needs a revamp. That's not going to happen, so Granada have let the show go. There's no point in paying them the rights to the show if they aren't going to use it again. That looks to be the end of Blind Date."
The final programme was seen by just 2.9 million viewers last month.
Cilla Black stepped down at the end of last series after eighteen years of fronting the show. At the time, programme makers Granada insisted that the show would be back with a new host -- rumours tipped the likes of Claire Sweeney, Davina McCall or Melanie Sykes for the role.
Now Granda have decided to ditch it for good after being refused permission to make changes to the show's format by Columbia, the US company which owns BlInd Date.
"The official line is that it has been rested and will be tinkered with," a source told the newspaper. "But Columbia have said that they won't allow any tinkering. As it is, the format is a bit tired and needs a revamp. That's not going to happen, so Granada have let the show go. There's no point in paying them the rights to the show if they aren't going to use it again. That looks to be the end of Blind Date."
The final programme was seen by just 2.9 million viewers last month.
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