We’re just getting reports that there are some big changes in store for Channel 5’s Gadget Show.
The headline news is that Suzi Perry, Jon Bentley and Ortis Deley will be leaving the show, and won’t be appearing in the new series that starts in the spring.
Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward will be the only two to remain, and apparently the show will switch from the current studio-based format to a duet with Jason and Polly touring the world on the search for gadgets.
The show has been running for 16 series and has built up quite a following within the tech and gadget community. The show has also spawned Gadget Show Live, which we attended last year, and will be reporting from this year.
Looking at tweets from the outgoing presenters:
@suziperry confirms that “the decision wasn’t mine”,
@jonbentley90 says “Thank you for your kind messages of support. It’s been a very enjoyable seven years”
Nothing as yet from @ortisdeley
It will be interesting to see what the new-look Gadget Show: World Tour will look like. Channel 5’s Factual Entertainment Commissioner Ian Dunkley says: “After 16 successful series it felt time for the show to go global and have some more fun. Our love of gadgets remains undimmed, and now the testing will be bigger, better, and in more exotic locations.”
Update: Why did Suzi Perry leave the Gadget Show? We caught up with Suzi Perry in March 2012 to discuss life after The Gadget Show. Listen to our Suzi Perry Interview
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As an aside, in case you hadn’t noticed, Sky recently launched its own gadget show – Gadget Geeks airs on Sky 1 at 8pm on a Monday night. The show borrows heavily from the Gadget Show, but splits the show into two teams, a room of geeks that build gadgets to order, with the other team getting hands-on with tech. If you’ve tried Gadget Geeks on Sky, we’d love to know what you think.
Any thoughts on the demise of the Gadget Show team? Let us know and we may read some out in our next tech podcast, FrequencyCast Show 73…
What a blow… I suspect the show will moving increasingly away from high street tech in favour of Top Gear style big budget stunts. Pity.
Oh dear oh dear, what a shame, all three will be missed so much, but, onwards and upwards I suppose, or is it down the pan, the jury is out…….
If it ain’t broke …….. Then mess around with it and alienate fans
It was rather obvious in the last series that Suzi Perry’s heart wasn’t in it. I suppose living in the south of France didn’t help encourage her to return to Birmingham every week. Sorry to lose Jon and Ortis. I think the show was becoming a ‘jolly’ for the presenters who just enjoyed chasing round race tracks on obscure contraptions. I’ll still be going to Gadget Show Live but won’t be attending the live theatre show as that had also become a ‘jolly’ for them.
I beg to differ from an earlier responder, the show had become in part an equivalent of Top Gear,and of course a giveaway (moneymaking) competition. I usually fast forwarding through it for real content in about half the play time.
Hopefully the new show will be abot real news and content, rather than Top Gear like competitions – But there again, I’m old fashioned enough to prefer a show like the very old Tomorrow’s World.
That really ages me!
As I said in my Tweet, it’s the end of an era.
I do agree with David Thompson about Tomorrow’s World.
Still, look on the bright side, at least Pollyanna’s still in it. Hopefully she’ll still be on the opening sequence:
http://youtu.be/YfHbKTde-nE
Missed a lot of last series as ‘they’ changed the day it was shown. I do think that ‘they’ seemed to have a thing about going back on items that had already tested. When there was much more they could have looked at. Sorry to see Suzi go but I think her days were numbered when Pollyanna arrived (I think Suzi seemed more into tech, and nice legs). Will be a shame to see them leave.
went to gadget show and live show 2012 enjoyed it with my 11 year old he had a great time saw the lovely suzi perry ,great legs and everthing else …..show was on for about 60 mins but it flew over non stop always the sign of a good show when it goes in a flash !
If im honest the show hasnt been as good as it used to be. I liked it before they did the over the top challenges and was more about gadgets than the presenters jetting around the world. Still its a shame suzi, jon and ortis are going. Dont think il be watching it with the new global format id watch a travel show if i wanted to see the world all i want is good gadget info and reviews.
As a Gadget Show fan I think that its a risky strategy to get rid of 60% of the presenters in one move. Personally, I think they should of done this over 2 seasons, maybe leaving Suzi or Ortis for this season to see how well the new format works. I like Jason and Polly, but are they enough?
Regarding the amount of travel around the World – if you think that a show can present a true picture of new technology by staying in old Blighty (where current tech like 4G is still a pipe dream) then you are very much mistaken. Unfortunately the UK lags behind the technology capitals like Japan and the U.S, meaning travel will need to be a fundamental part of this show.
i have stopped watching it i like technolgy and how it works not watching other peope being paid to have fun
Bring back the old way why fix something that isn’t broken? The new style is good but not as good as the old way in the studio the show has lost it intamacy we are the viewers and Iam sure they would all agree to bring the whole team back together were they belong on what was the best gadget show on the planet!!
Not liking the new format and no faith at all in Pollys comments or recommendations. Jason as informative as ever but come inlets have a believable presenter like Bentley or perry back It more of a jolly up for the presenters and not enough gadge
Not a patch on the old show !!!!!
What a load of crap. Gadget show lost its way talking about nothing but expensive stuff but this.. oily watsher face and Jason go on holiday. I’m off, bye gadget show.