Channel 4 'may lose Deal Or No Deal'

Channel 4 could lose Deal Or No Deal to a rival broadcaster after warning producers about planned cuts to the gameshow, a report has claimed.

According to the Daily Mail, the programme's production company Endemol has been told that the current £100,000-per-show budget would be slashed under a new contract.

It is thought that the BBC and Sky have now expressed interest in taking over the daytime show after its Channel 4 deal runs out at the end of next year.

A source close to host Noel Edmonds said: "[He] has been told about budget cuts. What he is most worried about is how this will affect the actual format of the show.

"They are talking about lowering the cash prize and other changes, which would completely change the tone of the show. But at the very least, he has said that he will be on the show for another 18 months."

Channel 4 has already lost The Paul O'Grady Show after the chatshow host defected to ITV last month. His final episode is expected to air in December.