Ian Wright booted from Live at Studio Five

A tabloid reports claims that Ian Wright has been dismissed from Live at Studio Five, the Channel Five chat-show, following a disagreement with producers. Updated: A spokesperson for Channel Five has confirmed to ATV Today that Ian Wright has departed Live at Studio Five.

A tabloid reports claims that Ian Wright has been sacked from Live at Studio Five, the Channel Five chat-show, following a disagreement with producers. The Daily Mail is claiming that the former footballer turned presenter has been sacked from the struggling chat-show for refusing to promote fellow Channel Five show Don’t Stop Believing. The talent contest, fronted by Emma Bunton, hasn’t performed well ratings wise with over 1 million viewers lost since its launch several weeks ago. According to The Daily Mail, Ian Wright was told to promote Don’t Stop Believing on Live At Studio Five by producers but refused to do so – prompting him to be dismissed as presenter on the chat-show.

 

‘Ian is not a puppet. Don’t Stop Believing has lost nearly a million viewers and he was told to come on air and say how great the show was, but he refused” – A “friend” of Ian Wright quoted in The Daily Mail.

 

Live at Studio Five, as with Don’t Stop Believing, has been struggling in the ratings as well for Channel Five. It’s running time has been cut down to half-hour episodes which is seen by some as a sign that Channel Five will axe the chat-show when its contract runs out in December. The Daily Mail claims that changes to the shows running time and other changes enforced on the chat-show left Wright unhappy.

 

A spokesperson for Ian Wright told the paper ‘Ian will no longer be appearing on Live at Studio 5’.  A spokesperson for Five told ATV Today that “Ian Wright’s contract on Live From Studio Five was coming to an end and the decision was taken not to renew it.  The show will continue with just current presenters, Kate Walsh and Jayne Middlemiss, in a new half hour format.”.