ITV shuts down one of its most popular channels after 11 years
The channel was home to several popular shows like The Only Way is Esssex.
After launching in 2014, ITVBe will shut down as the channel’s widely-loved reality shows move over to a ‘supercharged’ ITV2.
The Only Way is Essex, The Real Housewives of Cheshire and Real Housewives franchises from around the world will no longer air on the channel.
Instead, 11 years on, it will be rebranded as ITV Quiz in June 2025.
Although it is not known what quiz shows will air on the channel, ITV is launching several new formats in recent years, including the You Bet! revival, David Tennant’s Genius Game and Adam and Ryan Thomas’ 99 to Beat.
ITV2 has been touted as ‘the UK’s most successful digital channel for 16-34s’ and is already home to shows like Olivia Attwood’s Price of Perfection and hit animated comedy, Family Guy.
As well as original commissions G’Wed and Transaction.
ITVBe will be retired and rebranded this summer (Picture: ITV)They will join several returning shows, including Big Brother and Love Island, which rake in millions of viewers for the UK channel every year, all of which will continue to stream on ITVX.
Towie aired its first 12 seasons on ITV2 before moving over to ITVBe so it will be returning to its original channel to mark its 15th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Love Island remains the most popular reality series among young people, with ITV celebrating over 400 shows last year.
The upcoming ITV slate will also see the return of Olivia Attwood’s Bad Boyfriends and siblings Sam Faiers and Billie Shepherd in Sam & Billie: Sister Act.
Benidorm could return, Dancing on Ice has been cancelled – change is afoot at ITV (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock)One show that could be part of ITV’s upcoming releases is beloved sitcom Benidorm after the show’s creator confirmed there were discussions about its return eight years after it was cancelled.
‘Have I been talking to ITV in the last few months? Yes I have,’ Derren Litten teased on a Facebook live.
He added: ‘Have ITV commissioned a special or a series at the moment? No. Might they in the next few weeks, couple of months? Yeah they might. They might.
‘So I hope that gives you some hope, and I hope that gives you some idea of where we are.’
On the flip side, at the end of March, ITV officially axed Dancing On Ice hosted by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby after 19 years.
In a statement at the time, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.
‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the cast and crew who have worked on the show since 2006, and over the previous 17 series, for all of their hard work both on and off the ice.’
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