Steph’s Packed Lunch commission extends

22 November 2021

Expectation and Can Can Productions have been commissioned to continue making weekday lunchtime show Steph’s Packed Lunch for Channel 4 through 2022.

The recommission will see Steph McGovern continue to host the 100-minute daily format live from Leeds Dock, bringing viewers a daily dose of entertainment, lifestyle and consumer news with celebrity guests, fantastic food and captivating real-life stories.

Steph’s Packed Lunch launched in September 2020, airing from 12.30pm to 2.10pm on Channel 4. The show continues to grow its audience for both volume and share. Since returning from its summer break, the average audience share of 3.2% is double the share average for the same time last year. The show also continues to build a strong digital presence, with content from Steph’s Packed Lunch having 19.7M views on Facebook in 2021 so far. 

Steph McGovern will continue to be joined by the regular on-screen family of well-known faces including Anton du Beke, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, John Whaite, Denise van Outen, Freddy Forster and Gareth Thomas who, between them, deliver a mix of topics from cookery to consumer items.

Steph commented: “I love making Steph’s Packed Lunch! It’s so nice to work alongside my fab onscreen family and the amazing team who graft so hard behind the scenes. Together we’ve done some great things I’m really proud of; from encouraging women to have a smear test – I even had mine live on TV! – to helping people get back into work through our Job Clinic. We’ve tackled so many real issues that affect all our lives, welcomed so many big celeb names to Leeds Dock and met shed loads of inspirational people. I’m buzzing that we’re going to keep doing it next year!”

Jo Street, Head of Daytime and Features for Channel 4, said: “We are thrilled that Steph’s daily live show has doubled its audience share in the last year. The series has grown and developed so much and we can’t wait for viewers to see what’s next from the talented team at Leeds Dock.”

Executive Producer, Can Can Productions, Rebecca Papworth, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and grateful to our exceptional team in front and behind the scenes. Steph is the best presenter in daytime and this recommission is testament to her and the team’s brilliant work.”

Executive Producer, Expectation, Ben Wicks, said: "We are elated about the recommission, which is a huge testament to the tremendous work done by Steph and the team in creating a fun, joyous and informative show which more and more people are finding every day. Every single person in that studio in Leeds is brimming with enthusiasm, energy and smart ideas – and thanks to Channel 4 they are now firmly on ensuring the next 100 shows will be the best yet." 

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

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