Take Me Out gets a no lighty

‘Take Me Out’ has been axed.

The dating show, which had been hosted by Paddy McGuinness for the entirely of its 11 year run, has been cancelled by ITV bosses, after they felt the show had “run its course”.

An ITV spokesperson said: “We’ve decided to say goodbye to ‘Take Me Out’.”
Whilst a TV source confirmed to The Sun newspaper: “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’.”

The series - which has aired more than 100 episodes - focused on a single man arriving in the “Love Lift”, who was then tasked with convincing 30 girls to keep their lights on for him.
After several rounds, he then had the chance to pick a girl from those left with their lights on, who he would then take on a date to the Isle of Fernando’s - a fictional location in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
The show saw Paddy coin the catchphrase “No likey, no lighty!” in reference to the girls being able to switch off their light if they weren’t interested in the single man.

A production source said: “We’d like to thank Paddy, the production team at Thames as well as all the contributors for their hard work in making the show such unmissable television.
“We’re really sad to see the end but after 11 years, eight weddings and six babies, our work is done.
“We have lots of exciting projects with the channel lined up.”

Meanwhile, Paddy is now a co-host of the popular motoring show ‘Top Gear’ - which airs on ITV’s rival network BBC - where he is joined by Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris.