Big Breakfast To Have “Tabloid” Replacement

Channel 4’s replacement for the Big Breakfast is expected to model itself on the tabloid press, packaging news with entertainment stories in an attempt to boost the channel’s dwindling early morning audience.

Princess Productions won the contract to produce the new programme in December last year. At the time Sharon Powers, Channel 4’s editor for the breakfast strand, said: “The new show will include topical entertainment stories, news, weather and sport in a contemporary way.”

The Big Breakfast has now been on the air for more than nine years and has launched the careers of several successful presenters including Chris Evans, Gaby Roslin and Johnny Vaughan. At its peak popularity it could achieve audiences of 1.5m, but these days around two thirds of that figure has disappeared. The final show will air on 29 March.

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com

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