Channel 4 has denied all claims that it has axed one of its most popular shows in an effort to save money, rubbishing accusations that there has been a "bloodbath" at the channel.
The broadcaster posted its strongest-ever financial performance in 2021, recording revenue of over £1 billion for the first time in its history.
However, it's been hit with accusations that four shows have been scrapped – Naked Attraction, hosted by Anna Richardson, Scared Of The Dark?, documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics, and the hugely publicised reboot of Four Weddings.
A source at the broadcaster also alleged Channel 4 is cutting down on episodes of some its shows in a further bid to save money.
One of the channel's most popular programmes The Last Leg, hosted by Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, will now only run for seven weeks instead of the originally planned nine.
Speaking to the Mail On Sunday a source said: "Everyone is calling it a Channel 4 bloodbath. At first, everyone was in total shock when Four Weddings was cancelled.
"It’s almost unheard of that a show that is going really well is decommissioned, but as news started to spread, other shows were falling down too."
According to the insider, Channel 4 bosses Ian Katz and Alex Mahon have been going over the channel's entire output to see where cuts could be made.
Apparently those working to cast for the new season of Naked Attraction were told they were no longer needed as they were not making another series.
However, a spokesperson for Channel 4 told the Mirror: “Naked Attraction has not been decommissioned and a new series will return to Channel 4 next year.
"Scared of the Dark enjoyed a celebrated first season with excellent linear and streaming performance."
Refuting claims the TV channel needs to save money, the spokesperson went on: "Channel 4 is in robust health – however like all commercial broadcasters we’re taking some precautionary measures - such as rephrasing some content and production - in response to a downturn in the ad-market. The vast majority of our shows have not been affected."
Earlier this month Deadline revealed Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon, COO Ian Katz and commercial head Jonathan Allan, would be giving up bonuses of more than £100,000 until the company has come out of "a downturn in the ad-market".
In January it was revealed the privatisation of Channel 4 had been scrapped in a major reversal of plans by Boris Johnson.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan announced the station will remain in public ownership, where it has been for 40 years.
Mr Johnson, humiliated when the station replaced him with a melting ice block in a 2019 debate and a senior figure called him a “known liar”, had planned to flog Channel 4.
Channel 4 is publicly owned and non-profit but receives no taxpayer cash, instead being funded entirely through its commercial activity.
Instead of privatisation, reforms will "eventually allow Channel 4 to make and own some of its content", the government said.
This will include slowly raising Channel 4’s 25% quota of shows that are independently produced.
Further to the comment Channel 4 gave to the Mirror, a spokesperson previously told another publication: "Channel 4 cares deeply about the Indie community and our wider supply chain of freelancers. They are the beating heart of our business.
"While we recognise the actions we are asking of some are causing some short-term pain, the plan we have in place underscores our ongoing commitment to our financial sustainability and our continued support of the UK’s independent production sector
"The Executive Directors have already made the decision to defer retention payments and earlier this year declined a salary rise as part of a wider response to a very difficult ad-market in Q2, which is affecting all commercial broadcasters."
