ITV axe beloved game show after promising it was just 'being rested'

ITV has AXED a popular gameshow - after promising it was just being "rested". ITV has quietly axed Alan Carr's epic gameshow, in a blow for fans, with the beloved game show with a national treasure host cancelled by the broadcasting giant.

Epic Gameshow was a weekly mash-up of game-show favourites from the past 50 years. A TV insider said: “Alan won’t be taking this too hard as the three seasons Epic Gameshow ran for on ITV were well received and it’s not like he’s short of other projects."

The source went on to the Sun newspaper on Tuesday night: “On ITV alone, he has prime-time game show Password coming up later this year, as well as a second series of his autobiographical comedy drama Changing Ends."

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The source continued, saying last night: "Plus, he has shows on the BBC including Picture Slam and Interior Design Masters, and will soon be heading out to Spain to make another series of his home make-over programme with Amanda Holden.”

In the episodes, former Channel 4 Chatty Man star Alan, aged 47, would bring back classic formats from previous ITV shows, before concluding with a new invention called the ‘epic endgame’. The revived formats included Play Your Cards Right, Bullseye and The Price Is Right.

It had a prime slot on Saturday night for its three-series run from 2020 until 2022. The show’s first episode was watched by 4.3 million, but a smaller 2.3 million tuned in for the third outing’s debut, according to TV figure data released previously.

The news comes weeks after Zoe Ball and Alan’s musical talent show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream was shelved. Zoe was a presenter on the series, while Alan joined Jessie Ware, Glee actress Amber Riley and West End star Samantha Barks on the judging panel.