Axed: The Living Room
Exclusive: 10 ends its lifestyle show after 8 seasons -but the hosts will be back in 2020.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News, Top Stories
EXCLUSIVE: Network 10 has axed The Living Room ending a run of 8 lifestyle seasons, anchored on Friday nights.
However in a surprise twist, the four hosts -Amanda Keller, Chris Brown, Miguel Maestre and Barry Du Bois- will return in the same slot in 2020.
A Network 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight, “The Living Room will not return in 2020.
“We are thrilled that the brilliant team of Amanda, Barry, Miguel and Chris will be back at 7.30 on Friday nights next year, watch this space for more information.”
The lifestyle program produced by WTFN began in 2012 with a 30 episode run in 2012 up against the juggernaut that is Better Homes & Gardens and addressed a revolving door of shows in a challenging Friday night slot.
The Living Room added a studio audience, humour and couch chat to the genre and found a weekly following.
By 2015 it had increased to 42 episodes a year and snatched the Most Popular Lifestyle Program at the Logie Awards -winning it four times in a row.
It boosted the popularity of its 4 presenters, appearing in several other shows including I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Sunday Night Take Away and Dancing with the Stars.
Viewers also extended massive support to Barry Du Bois when he revealed a battle with cancer.
But as television increasingly fragments, costs have undoubtedly risen while ratings have dipped, now drawing anywhere from 330,000 – 400,000 viewers.
The axing also comes despite 10 confirming the show for 2020 at its recent Upfronts.
It isn’t clear what plans 10 has for the 4 presenters in 2020 -whether as part of a lifestyle show produced in-house to reduce costs- or as part of a bigger network production in a completely different genre….
The final episode is due to screen on Friday December 20.
38 Responses
Nooo! That’s one of my favourite shows!
I really don’t understand the people who run television stations!
I hope they bring Amanda, Barry, Chris & Miguel back in a show together!
That’s already confirmed in the story.
I’m as shocked as everyone else is, one of my fave shows. However I am sure that whatever the planned replacement is, with this team involved, it is almost guaranteed to be good.
this reminds me of that saying “cutting on your nose to spite your face”. this is a ratings winner why mess with it?
What a shock ! I just wanted to say David that I always notice and think it is really nice on Twitter that Peter Ford always credits you with your exclusives and stories in general. I do notice others seem to be a bit jealous of your scoops (but that is just most probably just me) !
He is a most honourable Mr. Ford and I always try to credit the many scoops he breaks on radio.
Oh no! Absolutely love The Living Room…hopefully it’s replacement will be worthy of the slot – as if not, Living Room will need to return.
With two similar shows on Friday night surely one had to go eventually. I would have moved this Thursday nights long ago. Like many shows the format got stale as well. Ide say 10 will bring production in house and do a studio 10 style program.
I am in shock and saddened by this news. Absolutely love watching this every week (and one of the few offerings that has had me committed for years). And like others say it is a logie winner many times over. I was sad when Offspring ended, but understood that dramas do run their course. There doesn’t seem any logical reason to axe this unless its cost related?? They just did TARA and IACGMOOH & Survivor Allstars are coming which I am sure are just as expensive (and probably more so). Fingers crossed that the replacement show is a reinvention of TLR otherwise there is potentially a huge risk of losing viewers if its something very different.
So next up Friday Night Takeaway with Amanda, Barry, Miguel and Chris.
I was thinking the same! Friday Night Takeaway with more focus on lifestyle. That would works…
Wow David, so many 10 exclusives lately, well done! Hope the PR team doesn’t crack the sads and cut you off again.
10 is pleased to announce “Amanda, Chris, Miguel, and Barry’s Friday Night Takeaway” for 2020.
Also known internally by the working title: “Not Pictured: Julia Morris”.
If it aint broke??…..there goes my Friday nights….I still have not forgiven BH&G…for dumping my fave chippy….I get my fix..late at night….
Keeping them together….fine….it better be good 10…You are on notice…( I so wanted to use caps *G*)
Btw….love that you got the Exclusive DK…just don’t care for the content ?
What a week it has been for local content to be axed…never before do I recall so many shows being axed in one week. Disappointing news, but I will reserve judgement until we hear more about their new plans for 7.30 Friday. I wonder if this has anything to do with the new Bondi Vet airing in the same slot on 9? (Both WTFN produced shows)
Ooohh?….but I think most watched Bondi Vet because of Dr Chris and I am not sure general TLR audience would be tempted away by this version on 9….
I sense there is more to this. A lot of the content was sponsored, and the cast are being retained so costs cant be the only reason. And the ratings were good enough to warrant a renewal at the upfronts just a few weeks back. Has ten had a falling out with WTFN?
One of the very few shows I like to watch… very disappointing
It’s ok, they are just moving into The Kitchen!
Wow, am shocked. No more living room. Shame. Wonder what they will do next.
I think after the debacle that was the $100M plus fee for the Melbourne Cup there was bound to be changes to the lineup ,i do admit I didn’t see this coming at all.
This is surprising. It seems to do well. It’s probably that 10 thinks they can do something similar for much less money. Heading into 8 seasons the studio producing it for 10 is probably asking for a fair bit of $$$
Am also surprised with this news of the axing of The Living Room. I enjoy the show. It’s ratings are healthy now too. I am glad they’ll be back at some capacity next year.
Cost cuts? Perhaps Dr Chris Brown’s travel segments may need some cutbacks. Last night, he went to the Antarctic.
This decision hot or not?? Not!!
Booooo we love watching this as a family. One of the very few shows we do. Hope for a similar show next year.
Great cast, great chemistry and rare banter on today’s sterilised TV.
Oh, that’s really disappointing !
Have watched TLR from the very beginning and really enjoy it, especially the rapport between Amanda, Chris, Barry and Miguel. They clearly genuinely like each other and appear to be very close.
Wow very surprised about this. I would have thought 330,000 – 400,000 would be called a success for a Friday night, they struggle to get that on Sunday’s at 7:30 onwards.
WTF? The show is a Logie award winner. Not to mention how entertaining it is. Not a weak link anywhere (except when they have Grant Denyer on the couch). It is a much better show than BH & G too. At least they are keeping the gang together. Maybe the new show will be I’m a Celebrity Dancer Get me out of the Living Room.
Obviously It would seem winning a Logie these days means diddlysquat.
Now this was a Real surprise,i didn’t see tajiš coming!
I really enjoy watching Amanda Keller and quite enjoyed the program so this saddens me somewhat. Amanda amuse me greatly. Hopefully whatever they do next I will enjoy equally (or even more) .