Channel 4 axe makeover show after one series as bloodbath continues

24 November 2023 , 13:21

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Channel 4 axe makeover show after one series as bloodbath continues

Channel 4 has made the decision to axe Big Interiors Battle hosted by AJ Odudu after just one series.

The 35 year old Big Brother star hosted the home improvement show just before it was confirmed that she was set to present the reality TV show earlier this year. The programme saw eight interior designers, who were tasked with transforming a different room of an apartment each week. Contestants learned whether or not they had been eliminated from the show by an electronic key card.

When the judges returned to the apartment, if the key card turned green, that meant they remained in the competition but if it turned red, it meant they had been eliminated. Tara Rodrigues won the competition and became the owner of her very own two-bedroom apartment in a historic development in South Yorkshire, worth £250,000, in the first series.

Channel 4 axe home improvements show hosted by AJ Odudu (Channel 4)

However, the programme has since been axed as it failed to pull in the viewership the broadcasting bosses had hoped for, according to The Sun. An insider claimed on paper the format sounded perfect especially as the prize was to win a home, which stood out among other makeover shows.

But executives soon realised that the show failed to take off. A spokesman for Channel 4 told the Mirror: "Every year, Channel 4, like all broadcasters, makes decisions about which shows to rest, return or conclude to ensure we always innovate and offer viewers the best range of programming. Regretfully, The Big Interiors Battle did not resonate with viewers as we would have liked, and there are no current plans for further series."

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At the time when the show first launched, AJ said: "I’m so excited to be involved in a series that has the potential to genuinely change the winner’s life. I’m also looking forward to seeing everyone’s different styles - as a major interiors obsessive myself, I’ll definitely be on the look out to hopefully pick up some nifty DIY tricks from this cast of pros." The contestants’ work was judged by Dara Huang, an architect and entrepreneur who has worked with a host of clients including billionaires and famous brands.

The show's axing comes after Channel 4 have unleashed a bloodbath on its current programming, with shows being cut in order to save money. Steph McGovern's daytime chat show, which began in 2020, is set to come to an end in December while the budget for the show will now be reallocated to other productions on Channel 4.

Previous shows that were axed include SAS: Who Dares Wins and fan-favourite The Big Narstie Show. Other programmes that were also given the chop included Scared Of The Dark and the medical documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics. While Five Dates A Week was axed earlier this year.

Lucretia Munro