8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown production to be paused
Channel 4 reportedly has no plans to film any more episodes of 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown in 2024, but it does still have one already-recorded series to show later this year.
Industry website Deadline has been told that the network "has been sitting on the current series since it was delivered last year and there are no plans to record a new series this year".
A spokesperson for the production said: "We have already shot episodes which are ready to air. To keep the show current we will shoot further episodes nearer transmission."
Earlier in the year Channel 4 revealed it was cutting over 200 jobs due to a slowdown in advertising revenue.
Today's report adds: "Deadline understands that talent availability plays a factor in filming and Cats Does Countdown has always been ordered ad hoc but sources tell us they feel the delay is a reflection of Channel 4's continued grapple with the ongoing slowdown and attempts to further spread out its shows across the schedule."
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown started as a single 'mash up' episode in 2012 but has since become a key Channel 4 comedy show, with over 150 episodes now broadcast. It has outlived the original panel show from which it spawned, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, which was last on air in 2021.
Hosted by Jimmy Carr, with regulars Jon Richardson, Susie Dent, Rachel Riley and Joe Wilkinson, the most recent new episodes of Cats Does Countdown were shown in January and February, with five new episodes broadcast on Friday nights.