Strictly’s Oti Mabuse heartbroken as ‘life-changing’ Steph’s Packed Lunch axed

Oti Mabuse discusses social media on Steph’s Packed Lunch

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse has expressed her heartbreak over Channel 4’s decision to cancel Steph’s Packed Lunch.

The series was axed after just three years, with the last episode of the Leeds-based chatshow airing this December.

Taking to Instagram, Oti shared a number of screenshots from her time on the show with her 677,000 followers.

In the caption, she began: “My little 2 cents about @packedlunchc4 and @stephlunch herself as a huge light in my life.

“This show shot all the way in Leeds came into my life 4 years ago and completely changed it, the culture amongst the presenters, crew, production and audience is like no other.”

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Going on to praise host, former BBC Breakfast star Steph McGovern, she wrote: “I can say first hand steph herself is an impeccable leader, a female empowerer, a brilliant presenter and the kindest hearted woman you’ll ever meet in show business.

“Level headed, educated, unthreatened and absolutely hilarious,” she added.

“The show gave people chances first time presenters, makeup artists, chefs, comedians, politicians it told stories most people wouldn’t even touch and we heard some beautiful northern accents from all over the north that made it a completely different show.

“It was never about ratings it was always about laughter, family building, nurturing new talent and creating a day time show that was conversational and natural, funny and covers topics that even I as a black girl could nod and say, ‘Yes, I’m going through that now.’

“Financial tips were made absorbable, politics was not this huge triggering topic, cooking was hilarious and everyone’s opinions including the audiences’ was accepted and mattered.

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“I’ve gone on to have my own daytime show since and that’s because this show and it’s team nurtured and instilled something in me that can never be broken or dulled.

“To this day Steph mentors me through my own show, the producer John is now my director on my show and the spirit of packed lunch lives on in me,” she continued.

“@stephlunch , @viveksharma98 matt, John you should be proud of what you created and look back with pride and joy on a brilliant show you created. I’m 100% certain whatever you’ll [move] onto will be just as spectacular

“I for one will be eternally grateful,” she added. I also always feel for the crew camera, floor managers, security and more because they really made the show (as always… the unsung heroes of showbiz).

“You will be missed,” Oti concluded with a broken heart emoji.

The professional dancer’s emotional post comes after fans were shocked to learn the Steph’s Packed Lunch was coming to and end so soon.

A statement from Channel 4 read: “With audience habits changing quicker than ever, we have to make difficult decisions about which programmes to invest in to best drive our digital-first strategy and we have decided not to recommission Steph’s Packed Lunch when its existing production contract ends in December 2023.

“We remain as committed as ever to our mission to help level up the TV industry outside London and to our 50% origination out-of-London target.

“We will be reinvesting the budget previously committed to Steph’s Packed Lunch into other nations and regions productions.”

A spokesperson for the producers, Expectation and Can Can, later confirmed: ‘We’ve had over three fantastic years producing Steph’s Packed Lunch together and working with the brilliant Steph McGovern and the outstanding on-screen family of talent.

“We’re very disappointed that despite building a loyal audience we don’t get to continue brightening up 12-2 on Channel 4.

“Leeds didn’t have a live television community four years ago and it’s been a privilege to build a team which boasts some of the brightest, sharpest TV producers in the country.”

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