Steph McGovern announces huge career change after Channel 4 axed her talk show
STEPH McGovern has announced her huge career change after Channel 4 axed her talk show.
The presenter, 42, broke down in tears during her last ever episode of Packed Lunch back in December after The Sun revealed that Channel 4 axed its flagship daytime show two months prior.
Steph is best known for presenting a number of other shows such as BBC Breakfast and Pocket Money Pitch.
Now she’s decided to step away from the camera and do something totally different.
The broadcaster revealed that she’s written a novel while at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Steph revealed: “Deadline is a book idea I’ve had since my early days on breakfast TV.
“Writing it has given me the chance to spend the last few years secretly living in a parallel universe where the high-pressured, high-profile environments I’ve worked in, and the colourful characters I’ve met along the way, have all fed into my own invented dark story of power, corruption and lies.
“I’m buzzing to be launching the book at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
“I’ve been coming here to stalk my favourite authors for ten years. Now to be here as an author myself is mind blowing.”
Deadline will be published by Pan Fiction in July next year.
Channel 4 made the decision to axe Steph’s Packed Lunch because they are trying to “compete with streamers” such as Netflix and Apple TV.
A source told us at the time: “This decision has come totally out of the blue; Steph’s Packed Lunch has been going from strength to strength, and has an incredibly loyal fanbase.
“It feels like Channel 4 are shooting themselves in the foot with this one – citing the need to do less live programming in order to go toe to toe with Netflix et al. It’s nonsense.
“Channel 4 is supposed to be a public service broadcaster, offering viewing something a bit different, and pushing boundaries.
“And to axe a regional-based show seems like yet another cronyism move by an out-of-touch bunch of north London-luvvie execs.”
Steph’s Packed Lunch hit our screens in 2020.
The broadcaster launched the programme from her own home during lockdown and it soon became a huge fan favourite.
The last instalment aired in December at the channel’s first high profile regional launch, based at Leeds Dock.