Steph McGovern is taking on a new challenge. The 42-year-old TV host has announced she is trying something new after her Channel 4 daytime show Steph’s Packed Lunch was unexpectedly axed after struggling to attract viewers. The broadcaster - which has reportedly been facing numerous financial challenges - announced the popular programme would not be returning for a fourth series last year.
Now, Steph is stepping away from the camera to pursue a career as an author. Her debut crime novel, Deadline, is set to be published next July. The star opened up about the new endeavour last week and gave fans hints about what to expect from her first book.
Speaking about her upcoming thriller novel at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Steph told fans: “Deadline is a book idea I’ve had since my early days on breakfast TV. ” Revealing that she had taken inspiration from “colourful characters” she had met during her time on TV, she added: “Writing it has given me the chance to spend the last few years secretly living in a parallel universe where the high-pressured, high-profile environments I’ve worked in, and the colourful characters I’ve met along the way, have all fed into my own invented dark story of power, corruption and lies.” Clearly excited about her new career path, Steph explained how being at the event as an author felt like a full-circle moment.
She continued: “I’ve been coming here to stalk my favourite authors for ten years. Now to be here as an author myself is mind-blowing.” Deadline will focus on Rose - a TV reporter who has landed a live TV interview with one of the country’s most powerful men.
But as the journalist’s interrogation begins, a hijacker in her earpiece tells her that her family have been kidnapped and will be killed if Rose does not do what they say. Steph’s exciting change in career has come at the right time. The star was understandably visibly upset during the final broadcast of Steph’s Packed Lunch - the show which she began in March 2020, presenting from her living room in the midst of lockdown Wiping away tears, Steph said : "We’ve had a proper laugh doing this show.
Thank you for sharing your stories with us and being part of this dysfunctional family." Speaking to fellow cast members, she continued: "It is really lovely to have you all here and everyone watching at home. One of the reasons I have loved doing this show is because it is in the north.
We get to shout out about all the creative things the North has to offer. It has been amazing to broadcast live from Leeds every day." When Steph first presented the show - initially called The Steph Show - it was attracting around 182,000 viewers - a staggering amount for daytime TV.
However, the figure dropped to 93,000 by September of the same year, and at one point during a broadcast that month, the show failed to record a single viewer . * Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads ..
