ITV axes Wire In The Blood

ITV axes Wire In The Blood
ITV axes Wire In The Blood (Image credit: ALAN PEEBLES)

Robson Green's crimes series Wire in the Blood has been dropped by ITV1 despite audiences of 4.5 million. The decision came as top ITV stars were warned of job cuts, according to a report by the Daily Record. Chief operating officer John Cresswell sent an email to all employees saying the slump in advertising revenues had prompted a wide-ranging review. Wire in the Blood is the latest casualty as the channel attempts to cut costs. Produced by Robson’s Newcastle-based company, Coastal Productions, the series is broadcast in around 30 countries and had its sixth series in 2008. Writer Val McDermid has hit out at ITV’s decision to axe the show: "It's just a disgrace. People could say it's self-serving, because it's my book. But it’s not about the money. "This is a slap in the face for Coastal, who have delivered first-class drama on a shoestring for ITV." Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.