Steph McGovern's Channel 4 show to return as Steph's Packed Lunch

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: August 14 2020 | 19:35

Last updated: August 19 2020 | 20:20

Steph McGovern's lunchtime Channel 4 show will be rebranded as Steph's Packed Lunch when it returns next month, we can reveal.

Steph McGovern's Channel 4 series will be rebranded as Steph's Packed Lunch when it returns next month.

The show launched several weeks ahead of schedule at the end of March just after the UK entered coronavirus lockdown, with the entire production coming live from the presenter's home in Harrogate rather than a custom-built studio in Leeds.

Known as The Steph Show, it aired for six weeks in a 12pm-1pm weekday slot but came to an end in early May following alleged complaints from McGovern's neighbours.

With social distancing guidelines now having been relaxed, the show will be broadcast live from the studio as first intended when it returns - complete with small number of audience members, all of whom will be distanced from each other.

Channel 4 is putting its full weight behind the series, now titled Steph's Packed Lunch, with a 135-episode commitment keeping it on air until Easter 2021.

Each episode will also run to 100 minutes instead of an hour, while its transmission time has been switched from midday to 12.30pm, putting it in direct competition with ITV's Loose Women.