The popular football comedy talk show Soccer AM is to be axed by Sky at the end of the season.
The show has been on-air since 1995 and helped launch the careers of original presenters Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy.
It is currently presented by former Premier League midfielder Jimmy Bullard and John Fendley.
A Sky spokesperson said: “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.
“We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people.
“We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
The show that has been a staple of British television for nearly three decades has just 10 episodes left to run.
It has previously faced strong criticism, notably for its segment the Soccerette.
The segment saw young female fans come out with a club shirt on before taking it off to reveal a Soccer AM shirt.
It was dropped in 2015.
Sky have made significant changes to their sports line-up in recent years.
Sunday Supplement was removed from television in 2020 after more than two decades on screen.
In the same year, pundits Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier were all removed from Soccer Saturday, and popular presenter and analyst Chris Kamara left the organisation in 2022.
Kamara said on Twitter that working on features for Soccer AM was “a fun part of my time at Sky”.
Fan Reaction
Fans on Twitter have had their say on the news:
Soccer AM is being cancelled at the end of this season after 30 years on air.
Yes, in recent times it has become a shadow of its former self but back in the day, it was essential viewing from 9 until 12 on a Saturday. It was part of my (and thousands of others) weekly routine.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) March 22, 2023
Soccer Am set to be cancelled 😭 Big part of my childhood and an inspiration for what we try to do on @fpl_juice – Will be missed.
— Ash FPL JUiCE🍹 (@AshFPLJUiCE) March 22, 2023
Thank god Soccer AM is finally getting the boot. Happened to see a bit of it a week or so ago and it’s dreadful. Like an old family dog that can’t walk anymore.
— Nate (@natedigidy89) March 22, 2023
The show’s 10.30am time slot is expected to be replaced by the Saturday Social which currently occupies the 9.30am slot.
(Featured image courtesy of Alamy Images under agreed licence)
