20 October 2023 , 10:17
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Steph's Packed Lunch star John Whaite broke his silence to pay tribute to Steph's Packed Lunch after it was axed.
The Channel 4 programme will come to an end in December, with the broadcaster announcing its decision to axe the show in a statement. They said it was "incredibly proud" of everything the show achieved and credited it for "kick-starting" the channel's growth in the north of England.
After hearing the sad news, The Great British Bake Off star John - who was the show's in-house chef - took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to the team and host Steph McGovern. He said: "Breaking my little insta-pause to post about this. I’m sure you’ve read the deeply sad news that Steph’s Packed Lunch will not be returning after December.
"I want to shout, as loud as possible, about how brilliant the team have been. The eclectic mix of folk from a hodgepodge of backgrounds and generations worked tirelessly to try to keep the integrity of a 100-year-old industry alive, and bring lunchtime entertainment and company to many a household.
John Whaite paid tribute to the team (john_whaite/Instagram)
The series was axed after three seasons (john_whaite/Instagram) "What they created was a show that was as diverse as it was welcoming, and I hope each and every one of them continue to thrive wherever the wind next takes them, because they deserve nothing but success. The food team - Courtney, Sarah and the talented home economists - have been a lifeline to me on so many occasions, and it’s been an honour to work with them (and the rest of the production and editorial teams) for the past 3 years."
He added: "And finally I hope that Steph, Vivek, Matt and all the people at the top feel nothing but immense pride for creating a ground-breaking, inclusive show. It has been an honour and a privilege to be a small part of Steph’s Packed Lunch. In many tiny ways, it changed my life. Maybe it’s time to start selling photos of my bare arse on OnlyFans, again…"
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Steph's Packed Lunch has been cancelled (Channel 4)The Channel 4 show, presented by presented by journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern, 41, debuted in 2020. The show is live and features items including showbiz interviews, food, news, and consumer advice and is broadcast from Leeds Dock. Earlier this year, in March, host Steph announced a major change to the daytime show as there were plans to make it even bigger.
From March onwards, Steph's Packed Lunch aired for an extra half hour, starting at the earlier time of 12pm every weekday. The extra-long show was welcomed by avid fans of the programme – who will be sad to hear that it will be coming to an end for good in December.