M&S: Dress The Nation will not be returning for a third series as hosts AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay are told that ITV have made the decision to pull the fashion programme
AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay’s Dress The Nation has been chopped(Image: ITV)
There’s some bad news for Vernon Kay and Big Brother host AJ Odudu after ITV confirmed they won’t be commissioning a third series of M&S: Dress The Nation.
Despite being watched by eight million viewers in its first year, the second stylish season failed to reach such an audience and the decision has been made to axe the show. Viewers watched nine contestants go head-to-head over five 60-minute episodes to secure an exclusive mentorship with M&S as well as have their winning design sold at the fashion retailer.
Each week a panel of judges including retail experts, fashion designers and celebrity guests choose which contestants move forward to be one step closer to being crowned the winner. But ITV have now confirmed that the second series will be the last as they focus on other projects.
It’s not the news Vernon, who announced her and wife Tess Daly are splitting, wanted to hear. Co-host AJ also has concerns with question mark hanging over one of her other big ITV programmes, Celebrity Big Brother. The reality show has already been pushed back until 2027.
The Sun report that ITV made the difficult decision to end M&S: Dress The Nation and ann ITV spokeswoman said: “Following two series of Dress the Nation, unfortunately we won’t be commissioning another at this time.
“However, we look forward to continuing our work with M&S and South Shore this summer on the six series of Cooking with the Stars and the fourth series of Tom Kerridge Cooks.”
Vernon spoke about the show ahead of the final series last year. He said: “Dress The Nation isn’t just about fashion, it’s about changing someone’s life forever whilst discovering more of their own confidence, creativity and talent.
“The level of skill this year is unreal which means the competition is ridiculously tough but seeing people shine doing what they love makes for proper feel-good telly.”
AJ and Celebrity Big Brother fans will have to wait a bit longer for the show to return to our screens, with ITV confirming that it’s moving back in the schedules – and being taken off ITV1.
The show, which was won by Coronation Street’s Jack P Shepherd earlier this year, will air its next series on ITV2 instead.
A spokesperson for ITV said, “We are committed to both Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother beyond 2025, and scheduling for any new series will be confirmed in due course.
“The show remains a priority reality format for us having recently hit 150 million streams on ITVX.” ITV is yet to announce a transmission date for the new series.
It comes after reports that Big Brother Late and Live was being axed by ITV bosses. An insider said: “Big Brother in general has struggled this year due to fierce competition from the likes of Celebrity Traitors.
“Late and Live has really struggled due to the main show not doing as well as hoped.
They added to The Sun: “Over the past few weeks, whispers have been rife that the show would be axed, and then during the final week, it was an open topic on the studio floor.
“Bosses have quietly told staff, many of whom are freelancers, not to expect the show to return.”
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