VIEWERS may be shocked to learn that ITV is to axe the 2009 staging of the National Television Awards.
But all may not be lost…yet.
We won’t be turning up as usual at the Royal Albert Hall in London on a chilly night in October.
ITV’s current cash crisis has led it to postpone the big night, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald.
It’s yet another visible sign of just how troubled ITV is.
Also, of course, reflecting what’s happening elsewhere.
ITV is currently in the process of cutting 600 more jobs and reducing its programme budget by £135m over the next three years.
That’s already led to the axe for Wire In The Blood.

With production of Heartbeat and The Royal put on ice, perhaps never to return.
So holding a glitzy bash in London probably isn’t top of everyone’s ‘To Do’ list.
There is hope, however, that the awards will return next year.
Possibly as early as a chilly night in January.
An ITV spokesman told me this morning that the broadcaster has a “very good relationship” with Indigo, the production company behind the awards.
And they are currently talking about future shows.
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