ITV to axe The South Bank Show when Melvyn Bragg retires next year
The news that The South Bank Show is going to be axed isn't surprising at all to be honest, but it's yet another unwelcome ITV landmark in terms of its evolution from a diverse network of franchise holders bound by strict regulations to a deregulated, mass market broadcaster dominated by one large player.
The South Bank Show's continuing existence in the ITV1 schedule almost seemed like a token anachronism given the changes that have taken place elsewhere, and given the inevitable retirement of Lord Melvyn Bragg it was very safe to assume that the show wasn't going to last forever.
And I confidently predict that what will undoubtedly be the most shameful thing of all about The South Bank Show's demise will be Ofcom's response to this move, namely...
