TV Star Faces Setback as Two Shows Are Cancelled

 

Mo Gilligan’s meteoric rise to stardom has been unmistakable over recent years. The comedian has ascended to become a prominent figure on The Masked Singer UK and helmed the Brit Awards for two consecutive years, marking a significant presence in the entertainment realm.

Since 2019, he has captivated audiences as the host of his self-titled programme, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. Additionally, last year saw the launch of the UK version of Jimmy Fallon’s game show, That’s My Jam, spearheaded by Gilligan.

Recently, it was revealed that The Lateish Show would draw to a close after a successful four-year run, prompting the 35-year-old to pen a heartfelt statement on social media, expressing his profound gratitude.

Now, That’s My Jam’ has recently confirmed its discontinuation. Its inaugural season, debuting in December 2022, showcased prominent personalities such as Nicole Scherzinger, Jason Derulo, Michelle Visage, and Alesha Dixon.

The celebrity guests were challenged with various musical tasks, engaging in games like the Wheel of Musical Impressions and Slay It, Don’t Spray It.

During the UK debut, Mo had an opportunity to meet American comedian Jimmy, who, in a video shared on Instagram, praised Mo’s performance in the new role.

However, despite the positive feedback, That’s My Jam couldn’t evade its fate of being cancelled after just one series.

A BBC spokesperson conveyed in a statement the difficulty of the decision, stating, ‘At times, tough choices must be made. Regrettably, there won’t be another series of That’s My Jam. We extend our gratitude to Mo Gilligan, Universal International Studios’ label Monkey, and Universal Television Alternative Studio for bringing the show to UK audiences.’

Last week, Mo took to Instagram to reveal some ‘big news’ regarding the future of The Lateish Show.

In a caption accompanying the post, he shared, ‘After an incredible four years, the final episode of The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan will air on Wednesday 20th December at 10 pm – the Christmas special marking my farewell.’

Attempting to encapsulate his feelings about the show, he continued, ‘I can’t find words to express how proud I am of this programme. It has genuinely transformed my life and left a lasting impact on the industry.’

Highlighting the show’s accomplishments, he added, ‘While it has garnered numerous awards and even more nominations, the unsung heroes behind the scenes played a pivotal role in making it all happen. There are countless moments that will forever bring me immense joy when looking back.’

Taking a reflective journey, Mo expressed gratitude to those who ‘worked tirelessly’ to bring The Lateish Show to life since its inception.

At Channel 4, from the very outset, they took a chance on an ambitious young black creative who struggled to break into the industry. From countless creative meetings with the dedicated team at Expectation, all striving to craft something of significant scale, joy, and groundbreaking ideas at its core.

Acknowledgement extends to every member of the production team who tirelessly contributed across all four series, to the remarkable guests who consistently gave their best week after week, and to the exceptional Compozers and phenomenal MOcalists.

Appreciation also goes to the talented stand-up comedians who graced our Lateish Introduces platforms and the exceptional individuals who joined as crew for our innovative Lateish Accelerator Programme.

The outstanding crew and staff at BBC Studios, my incredible team at my production company MOMO G, who consistently encourage and challenge me in the best possible way.

Gratitude is owed to everyone at Channel 4 for their continuous support and, most importantly, to the viewers – those who watched, shared clips, participated, and supported us tirelessly. It has been an immense privilege to invite people into my world every Friday night and simply have a great time.

Mo expressed that the coming year will be a ‘busy one’ for him, emphasizing his profound gratitude for what has been accomplished.

He went on, ‘I’ll never underestimate the opportunity that was given to me. I vow to persistently strive for more such opportunities for the next generation of young creatives…

‘…And to that next young Mo, endeavoring to break through, I say, keep going. Don’t give up. Everything is possible… The Lateish Show proves it ❤️.’