Next Major ITV Show To Be Axed Odds: Love Island Favourite Amid Sky Takeover
Sky looks set to complete one of the biggest takeovers in British media history after they agreed a whopping £1.6 billion deal with ITV to buy the company's media and entertainment divisions.
The huge media move - which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval - has sparked speculation on betting sites about how some of ITV's beloved shows might be affected, and whether it will see any Sky TV stars land their own shows over ITV.
In terms of ITV's most popular programmes, favourites Coronation Street, Love Island, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Emmerdale are still expected to be made by ITV's production arm, ITV Studios.
However, it is thought Sky might decommission some of ITV's shows, or even renegotiate their contracts - which could potentially see some programmes rested - further down the line.
And some programmes are likely to reach the end of their natural life anyway in the coming years, regardless of the Sky deal. But which one will be on the cutting room floor first?
"Sky looks set to complete a mammoth £1.6 billion takeover of ITV, which could put further pressure on some of their major shows. While many of the main favourites are expected to continue for now, it wouldn't be a surprise to see ratings dwindlers Love Island and Britain's Got Talent go soon. Sadly, the soaps are also on borrowed time, and Emmerdale could soon be Emmer-done. But the Sky takeover might result in the likes of Roy Keane or Gary Neville landing their own ITV shows." - James Leyfield
Not Sky's Type On Paper
One ITV show that could be in danger of the axe is Love Island, the dating series which has experienced dwindling ratings in recent years, sparking fears from super-fans that it could be shelved in the near future.
The first two episodes of the current 13th season reached an initial 1.8 million and 1.9 million viewers - around 400,000 down on last year and Sky don't have a great history with Love Island.
ITV production arm Granada previously pitched Celebrity Love Island - which went on to debut on ITV in 2005 - to Sky in 2003, but it was reportedly rejected by the channel for being too "tacky".
In 2005, an insider told The Guardian: "The idea was never commissioned because it was thought to be too downmarket and potentially damaging to Sky One's reputation.
"At that time the channel was attempting to move away from its image as a home for tacky reality shows."
Love Island is 13/8 favourite on betting apps to be the next major TV show to face the axe.
ITV entertainment show Britain's Got Talent has also shipped viewers in recent years.
This year's 19th season - which was won by The Hawkstone Farmers Choir - attracted a series average of 4.4 million viewers, less than half of the average viewership of 9.43 million who tuned into the 10th series a decade ago.
At its peak, BGT had more than 13.36 million viewers, on average, tune into series three - when Diversity beat Susan Boyle to the title.
BGT is now just 15/8 to be axed next, while fellow entertainment show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is a 3/1 shot.
Which Show Will Be Axed First Odds
Show | Odds | Probability |
Love Island | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Britain's Got Talent | 15/8 | 34.8% |
This Morning | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Emmerdale | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Good Morning Britain | 11/4 | 26.7% |
I'm A Celebrity... | 3/1 | 25% |
Coronation Street | 4/1 | 20% |
The Chase | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? | 6/1 | 14.3% |
The Masked Singer | 8/1 | 11.1% |
This Mourning
ITV's This Morning has undergone huge changes in recent years, following the departure of longtime hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Some believe the programme isn't what it once was, and the viewership is also less, on average, now than it was in Phil and Holly's final year.
It is 2/1 that This Morning is the next major ITV show to end up on the cutting room floor, and a fellow daytime show could also be at risk.
ITN make Good Morning Britain, which has a contract with ITV until 2031 and that will continue to be honoured by Sky, but could there be some changes in five years' time?
Sky Stars To Land Their Own ITV Show Odds:
Show | Odds | Probability |
Roy Keane | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Gary Neville | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Hayley McQueen | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Jamie Carragher | 9/4 | 30.8% |
Rob Beckett | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Martin Brundell | 11/4 | 26.7% |
Romesh Ranganathan | 3/1 | 25% |
Stephen Mangan | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Shebahn Aherne | 4/1 | 20% |
Jo Wilson | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Emma Paton | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Greg Davies | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Natalie Pinkham | 8/1 | 11.1% |
It's possible Sky may not want its own Sky News morning output as well as GMB, and the latter is 11/4 to be axed next.
The soaps might also have a tough time staying on air in the coming years. While serial dramas still remain popular in many living rooms across Britain, their ratings are also on the wane.
ITV cut both Coronation Street and Emmerdale's output at the beginning of the year, and it looks like being a downward spiral for soaps going forwards.
Emmerdale is 5/2 favourite to go first, while Corrie is a 4/1 shot on betting sites.
Keane-Do Attitude
But there will no doubt be plenty of positives to Sky's ITV takeover, which would create the UK's largest commercial broadcaster. This could include some of Sky's stars landing their own standalone shows on ITV.
Former Ireland footballer Roy Keane is 7/4 favourite to front such a programme. Following his playing days, he has become known as a top pundit on both Sky Sports and ITV Sport, including during the current World Cup.
He also has history with ITV, previously appearing in 2013 documentary Keane & Vieira - about his former rivalry with Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.
Keane's fellow Sky Sports and ITV Sport pundit Gary Neville is just 15/8 to land his own show on ITV, and their pal and co-star Jamie Carragher is a 9/4 shot.
Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen - daughter of the late Scotland and Manchester United legend Gordon McQueen - is just 2/1 to secure her own programme on the channel.
Scottish TV host Shebahn Aherne - who has presented football segments on Sky and also for ITV during the 2026 World Cup - is just 4/1.
What's more, Shebahn's Scottish compatriot, TV presenter Jo Wilson (9/2) - who fronted her own documentary, entitled Football, Cancer and Me, earlier this year, which highlighted her cervical cancer battle - could also be in contention.
Sky F1 icon Martin Brundle is just 11/4 to race over to ITV to front his own standalone programme, and Sky Sports F1 pit lane reporter Natalie Pinkham is 8/1 to do the same.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
