First it was Jonathan Ross, then The Cube.
Now it looks like a raft of retro ITV entertainment shows will be “rested” for a while... possibly for ever.
They include Surprise, Surprise, fronted by Holly Willoughby, and Vernon Kay’s Family Fortunes which have not been on telly since last year and will not get screen-time in 2016.
And while new runs of Phillip Schofield’s Mr and Mrs and Keith Lemon’s Through the Keyhole will be filmed this summer and shown later this year, that could well be their last outings, so tune in while you can...
The same goes for Stephen Mulhern’s Catchphrase, which went into production on a fifth run earlier this year.
ITV’s new entertainment commissioning team – Shu Greene, Peter Davey and Sue Murphy – have been tasked with changing the look and feel of ITV and are planning to unleash a torrent of new quizzes, panel shows and game shows on the viewing public.
One insider tells us: “By 2018 it’s unlikely that any of these formats from yesteryear will still be on the screen.
“It’s time to try out new stuff and everyone is very excited about what’s in the pipeline.”
While it’s bad news for fans of the shows, it won’t hurt the talent, who will remain part of the “ITV family” of presenters and will be signed up to front some of the all-new programming.
Some of the shows being phased out as series could make occasional comebacks as specials.
ITV said that all the titles remained “in the mix” for next year, adding: “It’s pure speculation to suggest that they may not return.”
Holly has already been lined up to front new dating series Meet the Parents, in which singletons go on blind dates with the mums and dads of potential partners.
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Lemon also has other irons in the fire after joining forces with Paddy McGuinness to make a pilot of The Keith and Paddy Show, featuring celeb guests and sketches.
There will also be a UK version of US hit Little Big Shots, in which kids perform tricks.
So, plenty to be getting on with.