C4 poaches Paul O'Grady

There's no proof that ITV are airing repeats opposite new episodes. Apparantly that story comes from The Mirror.

ITV were supposed to be airing repeats after Richard Hammond's 5 O'Clock Show ends in February. Paul O'Grady wasn't supposed to start on Channel 4 until around April. Therefore they wouldn't have clashed

Therefore The Mirror have put two and two together

Anyway I see Richard and Judy are already getting rough treatment by Channel 4 and will work the summer. Probably the first time they've been on air during the summer since........ Richard used to present Granada Reports?

ITV are totally stupid if they air repeats of his shown at the same time as channel 4.

Although they do have previous form for this kind of activity. Like when they held back Trisha episodes to go head to head when she left for Five.

Well if I was Channel 4 I'd put O'Grady on the higher rating autumn months purely because he's a bigger draw. They're also right to bring his show forward, the longer he's off air he could lose momentum.

Does anyone know anymore news on paul ogrady because i looked on his web site and it has not changed

Hope someone can help me

Love Annette xx

Paul O'Grady repeats start on ITV1 from March 6th.

It seems bizarre, what better way to promote the new series on Channel 4 later in the month ? Channel 4 must be very grateful.

In other Paul O'Grady news, apparently relations with ITV have completely broken down after he was refused studio space in the London Studios for his new series. In return he's pulled out of participating in all ITV shows including the Soap Awards and Simon Cowells new show.

"I'm not working for these petty tyrants anymore. The ban is pure spite," he told the Daily Mirror. "I will lose money but I would rather be sweeping the streets than working for ITV."

Bizarre - but oddly it worked with 'Trisha'. More people watched the repeats on ITV then the new show on CH5. ITV have also banned their soap stars from appearing on the show. Which isn't good considering about 98% of his guests were soap stars. The quality of his guests could end up being worse then Davina's

I did expect ITV would do that. It'll be stars of Big Brother every day.

It's all quite unnecessary really. In exchange for getting his own production company to make the programme he's managed to get an inferior show competing against himself with either the same or lower ratings, poorer guests and lost out on two big prime time shows that would get him twice as many viewers as any daytime show does!.

Expect him to be slagging off ITV all the time now. Before he decides to go back to them next year, and then to Five, and then to BBC1!

His show on Channel 4 starts on Monday 27th March, recording Monday to Wednesday as before. On the site where you book tickets, it says "Location in London, still TBC".

So ITV have total control over the London Studios do they ? I'm sure they must have another booking, can't imagine them losing out on revenue, even if it's Paul O'Grady. Perhaps they're using the space for whatever ends up replacing him.

The reason Trisha repeats got more viewers on ITV than new episodes being shown on Five is because more people watch ITV rather than FIve overall

I wonder who they will get to present the soap awards now? Richard and Judy were all told they were no longer going to be doing it when they moved from ITV to C4. Maybe Des and Mel will do it again now.

I guess Phil and Fern are probably first choice.


It seems very petty on all sides to be honest. I can understand why Paul moved to C4 - and why he'd pull out of ITV projects due to the way they reacted, but I suspect he's not completly innocent in his squabbles with ITV.

ITV showing repeats of Paul O'Grady shows what a hole he's left - but if they continue once his new show goes on air it won't work like Trisha did as most the daytime audience are watching C4, with Deal or No Deal peaking at up to 5million in the last 15 minutes.

It was mentioned in The Mirror last week that ITV won't allow Paul to take the right of the Nodding Buster, as ITV own the Image Rights to it, even though they aren't going to use it in future. But he was told this as he lay ill in bed and thought he had too much Night Nurse.

I don't see why ITV are being such arses about this, it was their fault for not renewing his contract, so he was at his own free will to change channel, if ITV cared about him then they would have signed the deal sooner.

Even more sillier by ITV to show highlights of the old show near the time of the launch of the Channel 4 show, people will realise sooner, I think his fans know he's changed channel, I wish him every success on Channel 4.