ITV dating show Take Me Out has been cancelled after 10 years - here’s why

Are you sad to hear the news? (Photo: ITV)Are you sad to hear the news? (Photo: ITV)
Are you sad to hear the news? (Photo: ITV)

Take Me Out, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, which has been on the air for 10 years, is being cancelled by ITV.

This is what you need to know about why the dating show is coming to an end.

Why has it been cancelled?

A spokesperson for ITV said, “We’ve decided to say goodbye to Take Me Out.

“ITV and Paddy have done all the specials you can eke out of a dating show, so it’s been decided it’s time for it to go.

“As with many shows, ratings have slid a bit in recent years. But it will go down as a big success - it’s had more weddings than Blind Date.

“We’d like to thank Paddy, the production team at Thames as well as all the contributors who have appeared on the show for all their hard work in making the show such unmissable television.”

A production source said, “We have lots of exciting projects with the channel lined up.”

Take Me Out successes

While the show is probably more infamously known for its awkward dates and blackouts, Take Me Out did see its fair share of successes.

After 11 years, Take Me Out was responsible for eight weddings and six babies.

Beckie Ryan, a former contestant on the show, took to Twitter to post her tribute after hearing the news of the cancellation.

She wrote, “So sad to see #TakeMeOut come to an end. I owe everything to the show, the wonderful producers, everyone backstage, @PaddyMcGuinness & the contestants of series 8. My little family wouldn’t have existed without it.”

What does Paddy McGuinness say?

Host Paddy McGuinness took to Twitter as well to post a video about the news.

In the video, Paddy said, “Hello friends! Well after 11 series, it’s time to say goodbye to Take Me Out. Eight weddings, six babies and a generation of youngsters who have grown up watching us on Saturday night TV.

“Over 10 years go, ITV took a punt on myself and the show, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. Ten years! God that’s before Tinder and Snapchat, Twitter was a little baby and Instagram wasn’t a thing, and WhatsApp, well that was just witchcraft.

“What I’m most proud of is the success of Take Me Out, it put dating shows back on the TV. Thank you to all the boys who braved the Love Lift and most importantly to the stars of the show - the girls. I’m going to miss spending my Saturday nights with you.”

Padded ended the video by saying, “For one last time - it’s lights out, all out.”

Online reaction

News of the cancellation of the dating show has garnered mixed reactions from people across social media.

Taking to Twitter, users made their feelings known.

One person wrote, “Gutted #takemeout has been axed forever, however the last couple seasons weren’t great; it was getting kinda cringey. Had a great run though & will be missed.”

Another tweeted, “#TakeMeOut had simply run its course and with @PaddyMcGuinness being involved in other projects like Top Gear it made sense.”

“#TakeMeOut axed but yet ITV keeps the bloody masked singer, just no justice or reasoning left in the world! #nolightynolikey,” wrote another.