Deal or No Deal gets ITV axe for a second time in weeks as FA Cup causes scheduling nightmare

Deal or No Deal's Stephen Mulhern
Deal or No Deal's Stephen Mulhern -Credit:ITV


Deal or No Deal has been axed for the second time in weeks, as an FA Cup game involving Manchester United left the broadcaster facing a scheduling nightmare.

Last month, there was some serious drama at Old Trafford as Amad Diallo got the Red Devils into the semi final with a last ditch goal, after they were pushed all the way by Liverpool and the reward for that 4-3 win was a final four ties against Coventry at Wembley on Sunday. The Premiership side look to be cruising to victory, as Harry Maguire put them 2-0 on the stroke of half time, before Bruno Fernandes made it three.

However, Championship team Coventry had other ideas and after pulling it back to 3-2, levelled things up deep in stoppage time, as Haji Wright netted from the penalty spot. That took things into extra time at Wembley, around half an hour before Deal or No Deal was due to start.

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And, with the drama going right to the wire, just like it did in the quarter final, a celebrity special of the Stephen Mulhern show was again hastily puled from schedules. Coventry thought they'd snatched a last ditch victory right at the death, only for what looked like being their winning goal being chalked off for off side.

That took things to a penalty shoot out which, after missing their first, Man United went onto win to break Coventry hearts. With the result decided, there was time for reaction from the pundits in the ITV studio, including former Man United captain Roy Keane, before the football coverage finally ended at around 6.45pm, well into the slot originally intended for Deal or No Deal.

Having tune into watch the special, one disappointed viewer took to X to sarcastically quip: "Enjoying this episode of Deal Or No Deal on ITV right now"

With Midsomer Murders 'missing in action' just a week after returning, the Sunday night schedule was them dominated by the second episode of Britain's Got Talent's return and the launch of new thriller Red Eye.