Channel 4 supersizes Steph’s Packed Lunch commission

6 May 2022

Channel 4’s BAFTA Award-nominated daytime series Steph’s Packed Lunch has been recommissioned, with Expectation and Can Can Productions continuing to make the weekday lunchtime show throughout 2022 and 2023.

Steph’s Packed Lunch is currently seeing its best-ever viewing share, averaging a 3.4% share in 2022, up +9% on the same period in 2021. The show is nominated in the Daytime category at this weekend’s BAFTA Television Awards and it is also nominated for Best Daytime Programme at the TRIC Awards 2022. Earlier this year, host Steph McGovern was nominated for Best Presenter at the RTS Programme Awards and Steph’s Packed Lunch was shortlisted for Best Daytime Programme at the Broadcast Awards 2022.

This recommission sees Steph McGovern continue to host the 100-minute daily format live from Leeds Dock every Monday to Friday, bringing viewers a daily dose of entertainment, lifestyle and topical news with celebrity guests, fantastic food and captivating real-life stories.

Steph is joined by a regular on-screen family of well-known faces including John Whaite, Denise van Outen, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Dane Baptiste, Reverend Kate Bottley, Freddy Forster and Gareth Thomas who, between them, deliver a mix of topics from cookery to consumer items.

Based in Leeds, Steph’s Packed Lunch has also built a strong training ground for production and editorial talent in the region, with staff who joined the team as runners, researchers and assistant producers achieving promotions to more senior roles.

Steph McGovern commented: “Eeee, I can’t believe it. We started the show in my living room in a lockdown, and now we’re nominated for a BAFTA. I’m so proud of my brilliant team who have made this show a place where we can all have a laugh together, meet people with extraordinary stories and tackle real issues. I also love that we’re broadcasting live every day from Leeds, which has meant we’ve been able to create opportunities in and around the area for lots of different people from all walks of life. It’s great we’re going to be able to continue doing that. And I get to carry on doing a job I absolutely love. Win win!”

Jo Street, Head of Daytime and Features for Channel 4, said: “I am chuffed to bits to see Steph’s Packed Lunch go from strength to strength, it’s a confident, modern, upbeat and feelgood show – just like Steph herself - and she and the brilliant team who make it more than deserve all the award nominations. We are so pleased to have commissioned it for an extended run and can’t wait to see what more there is to come from the gang at Leeds Dock.”

Rebecca Papworth, MD of Can Can Productions, said: “Seeing a show born in the regions pick up a BAFTA nomination and this fabulous recommission is testament to a brilliant and dedicated team, a super talented host in Steph and the inspired support of the channel. We are so grateful and absolutely delighted…onwards!”

Ben Wicks, Creative Director, Comedy Entertainment, Expectation, said: “En route to securing the show’s BAFTA nomination, Steph has championed important initiatives like the  Packed Lunch Job Clinic and Small Business Market whilst also, on one occasion, jumping into the freezing cold waters of Leeds Dock. This recommission gives us a dizzying number of opportunities to go even further with our incredible host who will stop at nothing to inform and entertain the nation. All hail our incredible team, who day in, day out make the most joyous show on TV, and the mighty people at Channel 4 who couldn't have backed the show more wholeheartedly.”

Steph’s Packed Lunch is produced by Expectation in partnership with West Yorkshire-based Can Can Productions. The series editor is Nicholas Steinberg and the executive producers are Rebecca Papworth for Can Can Productions and Ben Wicks for Expectation. Jayne Stanger is commissioning editor for Channel 4.