Xpose axed as Virgin Media TV announce schedule shake-up

Virgin Media Television (VMTV) has announced a schedule revamp that will see entertainment show Xpose come to an end.

Xpose ran for 12 years and has seen TV stars such as Lorraine Keane, Karen Koster and Glenda Gilson front the show.

Cassie Stokes currently presents the show, alongside Koster and Gilson.

The series will come to an end with a special hour-long show on October 4.

Pat Kiely, Managing Director at VMTV said the Xpose had "set the standard for entertainment reporting."

In the shake-up, VMTV has also announced they will stop showing ITV’s This Morning and Loose Women to pave the way for the new schedule.

Ireland AM, which is celebrating 20 years on air, will now be extended by 30 minutes.

The breakfast show will air from 7am to 11am, with Weekend AM being rebranded to Ireland AM on Saturdays and Sundays.

A statement said that it will have "a combined presentation team working across the seven-day breakfast service."

Daytime talk show, Elaine, is moving to a mid-morning slot of 11am to 12pm.

The station also announced a new midday, one-hour news programme named Live at 12.

Hosted by Colette Fitzpatrick, the show "will bring viewers the latest breaking news and sport with live reports from around the country and discussion on the big stories of the day."

The station also revealed that The Six O’Clock Show will now air five days a week.

"Our investment in state-of-the-art studio facilities over the last three years means we can now step up and deliver more Irish content than ever before," said Mr Kiely.

"Being live and local right through the morning means we will connect more with our viewers and reflect the issues that are important to Irish audiences.

"From Ireland AM to the Tonight Show, Virgin Media Television now offers more daily live studio and News content than any other broadcaster.

"Like all broadcasters however we are facing on-going economic and competitive challenges.

"This means we must move with the times and reflect changing tastes and media consumption.

"It also means having to make tough decisions to ensure we remain viable and relevant."

Speaking about the departing entertainment show, Mr Kiely said: "I would like to pay tribute to the Xposé team and all who worked on the show over the last twelve years.

"Xposé set the standard for entertainment reporting in an era before the proliferation of social media and leaves behind a genuine legacy in Irish entertainment journalism."