BBC cancels celebrity chat show after eight series as fans slam 'really bad decision'

The BBC has decided to pull the plug on the much-loved celebrity chat show Between the Covers after eight successful seasons, leaving its audience heartbroken.

Hosted by BBC Two's Sara Cox, Between the Covers has been shelved as the corporation shifts its focus towards creating "high impact content" for the future.

The programme featured Sara and her celebrity guests delving into the world of literature, discussing their favourite reads and offering book recommendations.

READ MORE: Gethin Jones inundated with support as he shares heartbreaking personal news

READ MORE: Good Morning Britain fans say the same thing as Richard Madeley makes return

A spokesperson for the BBC stated: "After eight series we have made the difficult decision to bring Between the Covers to an end to enable us to prioritise high impact content that drives viewers to iPlayer.

"We would like to thank Sara Cox and all the team at Cactus TV for their hard work bringing Between the Covers to our screens."

Sara has not yet made a public statement regarding the cancellation of Between the Covers, which saw stars such as Laura Whitmore, Gethin Jones, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Grace Dent grace its sofa over its tenure.

Devotees of the show, which debuted in 2020, have expressed their dismay on social media following the announcement of its discontinuation, reports the Daily Star.

One disgruntled viewer exclaimed, "What a nonsense decision! The BBC are basically a self parody at this point," while another lamented, "Really bad decision. Only show I actually watch on the BBC."

Another fan remarked, "This is sad – really enjoyed this programme and bought 9 books as a result of watching. Stupid decision by the BBC," and yet another shared their "gutted" reaction to the news.

Another person lamented: "Oh, no! I loved #BetweenTheCovers. I found some really good reads by watching that programme. The @BBC have made some very odd decisions of late, but why axe such an engaging show which must be comparatively cheap to make? It's nuts! And disappointing."

The final instalment of Between the Covers was broadcast on 3 December 2024, with Richard Osman, Ranvir Singh, Ben Miller and Alex Jones sharing their book choices. Each series consists of seven episodes, each lasting 29 minutes.

However, there's a silver lining for book lovers as the BBC has announced that The Radio 2 Book Club with Sara Cox will carry on, ensuring devotees can still indulge in their weekly literary discussions through the popular podcast on BBC Sounds.

Sara, who released her second novel Way Back last year, is also well-known for her weekday teatime programme on BBC Radio 2, airing from 4PM to 7PM.

Series seven and eight of Between the Covers are both available to stream on BBC iPlayer