Soccer AM presenters Jimmy Bullard and John 'Fenners' Fendley made light of the show's impending end in the first episode broadcast since reports emerged about Sky's plans to cancel the show.
The weekend talk show has been on air for nearly 30 years, but is due to come to a close at the end of the season. This means the latest episode was the first of just 10 due to air in the aftermath of the announcement, with the hosts said to be fuming.
Another show, Saturday Social, is due to take Soccer AM's place in the schedule when the longer-running show comes to an end, with a number of redundancies planned. As they went on air for their usual broadcast, though, Bullard and Fendley couldn't ignore the discussions which have been going on throughout the week.
"Before we go any further, I'm going to address the elephant in the room," Fendley began. Then, rather than going into any detail about the cancellation, he pulled a classic bait-and-switch by shouting in the direction of someone in a literal elephant costume asking about a coffee run.
After an apology from the elephant, who "forgot" to fetch the drinks, he points out that "elephants aren't supposed to forget". Fendley and Bullard then put in a requests for coffees with milk and two sugars.
The gag received a mixed reception on social media, with one fan saying "This is the exact reason the show has been axed!". "Soccer Am was unmissable viewing at one point. Now it’s sadly like watching a once great player playing in League 2," was the verdict from another.
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Amid reports that a number of redundancies are due to come in at the end of the season, a Sky Sports spokesperson issued a statement. Other broadcasters could also be at risk, with reports suggesting some Soccer Saturday reporters will be forced to reapply for their roles.
“Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers," the spokesperson said. "We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
The show was first broadcast back in 1994, while Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain were its longest-serving presenters. Former producer Fendley has been a regular host of the show since 2015, while Bullard - a Premier League footballer with Wigan, Fulham and Hull - has been in his role since 2017.
Soccer AM is due to air for the final time on May 27. The final round of 2022-23 Premier League matches takes place the following day.
