Gary Barlow's Let It Shine will NOT be returning next year due to THIS reason
LET IT SHINE will not be returning for another series next year, it has been confirmed.
Five To Five announced WINNERS of Let It Shine
Insiders said that that the BBC talent show - which was created by Gary Barlow and aimed to find five stars to play a boyband in a musical featuring songs by Take That - was a “huge success”, but bosses “didn’t want to rush into another series”.
A source said: “The show was a huge success in many ways but the concept for a second series just wasn’t quite there yet.
“The first series was a project that had been worked on for years before coming to fruition.”
There’s a danger of undoing the good work done this year by rushing into another series. No one wanted that so they’ve decided to leave it for now
They added to The Sun: “Gary in particular wants to make sure that if it does come back, proper time, effort and ideas have gone into it.
"There’s a danger of undoing the good work done this year by rushing into another series. No one wanted that so they’ve decided to leave it for now.”
The eight-week series - which was won by Five to Five; who will tour in stage show The Band later this year - featured Martin Kemp, Dannii Minogue and Gary as judges, while Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc presented.
A BBC spokesperson has also confirmed that Let It Shine would not be returning next year, but that “the door is definitely open” to the possibility of another series in the future.
They told Express.co.uk: “Let it Shine was a great new format that performed well for BBC One but it will not be returning in 2018."
They continued: “At its heart the show was about finding and nurturing new talent and giving 5 individuals the unique prize of roles in a brand new, year-long, touring theatre production and as such the door is open to the possibility of another series of Let It Shine in the future.
“We would like to thank the cast and crew, all of whom brought professionalism, passion, joy and energy to the show.”
Gary Barlow added: “We had a fantastic time making Let It Shine and the response has been absolutely amazing. The musical itself has broken records for the fastest selling theatre tour in UK history, which is incredible! I want to make sure we give any future series the focus and excitement Let It Shine Series 1 had, and I look forward to making plans for the future with the BBC team.”
The latest news comes after it was reported that The Band had taken in a whopping £10 million at the box office; three months before the musical is set to kick off.
Nick Carsberg, A.J Bentley, Curtis T. Johns, Yazdan Qafouri and Sario Watanabe-Solomon - who beat off tough competition in Gary’s show to be crowned the winners - are set to take to the stage to belt out some of Take That’s classics.
The script follows the journey of five teenage girls, the women they become and the boyband they follow for 25 years.