ITV's popular cookery show Weekend Kitchen has been shelved, with presenters John Torode and Lisa Faulkner facing a career blow amid the broadcaster's budget reductions. The Sunday programme has enjoyed a 10-series run, and it will be absent from screens this year and potentially longer.
Faulkner's Health Update
The announcement comes after Lisa revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and had undergone surgery with a course of radiotherapy as further treatment. Despite the setback, the couple remains positive about the programme's potential return on screen.
Lisa, 54, shared her health update on Thursday, saying: "I know I've been very quiet on here, the reason being I have had to have surgery for the early stages of breast cancer. I had surgery two weeks ago, it was quite a big op, but it's all good, and I've got my results back, and they've got everything out. So it's all clear, and I just need to have some radiotherapy in a few weeks. I just wanted to say I've got a bit of healing to do but I'm good. I'm well and feeling so much better and I'm so grateful I went for my mammogram."
Future of the Show
An insider told The Mirror: "John remains a regular contributor to This Morning, where he has been fully supported by everyone, including hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley. The truth is there are no current plans for series 1 of Weekend Kitchen, but no final decisions have yet been made over whether it will return in the future. And John is very much a part of the ITV family through his role as a regular chef on This Morning."
Background on the Presenters
The Weekend Kitchen focuses on approachable home cooking and has become a regular feature on ITV. Lisa also wrote several bestselling cookbooks as she co-presents the show with her husband, John. Last year, John left BBC One's MasterChef after a report found he had used an "extremely offensive racist term". In his statement, the TV chef said: "Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay, I am seeing and reading that I've been 'sacked' from MasterChef. I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of. The enquiry could not even state the date or year of when I am meant to have said something wrong."
