Trisha Chopped
Long running talk show ‘Trisha’ has been axed by its current network, Channel Five.
The show, fronted by Trisha Goddard, began life on ITV in 1998 when previous host Vanessa Feltz defected to the BBC after a row over pay. At the time production company Anglia Television said Vanessa had made a “completely unrealistic” pay demand of £2.75m.
Vanessa’s BBC show flopped after only one series. It gained less than half the viewers of the ITV slot and her commercial replacement, Trisha Goddard, – who was unknown in the UK at the time – became an instant hit with daytime viewers.
Both shows hit the headlines when it became apparent some of the guests were not everyday people looking for help and advice – but were actually actors. Changes were made to make sure this ‘fakery’ would never happen again. While Trisha survived the scandal, Vanessa’s show bit the dust.
The Trisha show switched to Channel Five in 2005 reportedly after ITV refused to let Goddard produce the series herself with her own production company. In a typical ITV move of spite they refused to let her new production company hire the Anglia Television facilities and so the studios were downscaled to regional production only.
Speaking at the time Trisha commented on the move: “I’ve had six fantastic years at ITV and been fortunate enough to work with some great people. However, …I know in my heart that it’s time for a change.
“I feel the need to refresh and reinvigorate my television career and I’ve been really impressed by the energy and enthusiasm evident in Five’s approach.”
Four years on and the current financial climate has been blamed on the demise of one of Five’s most popular daytime programmes. The broadcaster said the action to axe the talk show was one of their most difficult decisions.
Goddard said: “I have enjoyed my time at Five but I look forward to exciting new challenges ahead.”
“People up and down the country are losing their jobs and their homes in the current recession so I don’t feel sorry for myself.”
The Channel Five version of the Trisha show is produced by Town House
Productions; a company that was founded and co-owned by Goddard and Malcolm Allsop, the former director of programmes at Anglia Television who hired Trisha after the defection of Vanessa in 1998.
The company said that with the loss of the programme 85 jobs would go from their Norwich and Maidstone centres.
Dawn Airey, Five’s Chair and CEO said: “Trisha Goddard has been a tremendous asset to Five’s daytime schedule. I want to thank Trisha and the production team for their years of dedication and hard work.
“It is with great sadness and regret that we’ve come to this conclusion, but in the present economic climate, it feels like the right time to go our separate ways. We are currently reviewing all our business practices and contracts and need to focus our resources on the most commercially critical parts of the schedule.”
Trisha recently battled breast cancer in 2007.