ITV’s latest star-studded drama has been axed after just one season it’s been revealed.
The Ipcress File, based on the famous 1962 Len Deighton novel, starred Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole, Lucy Boynton and Tom Hollander, aired late last year.
And according to TVZone, despite the channel wanted to commission a second series, the cast’s busy schedules has forced producers to pull the plug.
The Cold War spy thriller followed Harry Palmer (played by Cole), a working-class British sergeant, who becomes a spy to avoid military jail after a series of dodgy dealings.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: ‘Sadly, we haven’t been able to progress a second series of The Ipcress File.’
Gutted: ITV’s latest star-studded drama has been axed after just one season it’s been revealed
The original 1965 film saw Palmer played by Sir Michael Caine, which catapulted his career to new heights.
The espionage film and its following sequels were a deliberately downbeat alternative to the hugely successful James Bond films of the period.
Palmer is a contrast to Bond’s privileged private school upbringing and lives and works in a ‘gloomy’ London, where he resides in a Notting Hill bedsit.
Deighton went on to write several Harry Palmer thrillers – although the spy was never named in the books – giving producers scope for further series.
It comes amid reports that fellow ITV show This Morning could face the axe if it emerges that show bosses ‘covered up’ Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger, male colleague.
The presenter, 61, quit ITV with immediate effect after admitted to cheating on wife Stephanie with the man, while he admitted deceiving his ITV employees and colleagues about his affair.
Phillip has now resigned from ITV and will not host what was his last remaining TV appointment, the British Soap Awards, and has been dropped by his agents at YMU.
And while Phillip’s 40-year career lays in tatters, it is now said that This Morning also faces the chop as senior bosses at the programme come under pressure to reveal what they knew about Phil’s affair with the young runner.
No more: The Ipcress File, based on the famous Len Deighton novel, starred Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole (pictured) Lucy Boynton and Tom Hollander, aired late last year
Drama: It’s been reported despite the channel wanted to commission a second series, the cast’s busy schedules has forced producers to pull the plug. (L-R) Lucy Boynton, Joe Cole, Tom Hollander
Original: The original 1965 film saw Palmer played by Sir Michael Caine, which catapulted his career to new heights (pictured)
The Sun reports that the jobs of top bosses at the ITV show could be in jeopardy and that ‘very senior heads could roll’ if it transpired that they kept the presenter’s secret unwraps.
A source told the publication: ‘This goes right to the top. Very senior heads could roll. If there’s any suggestions of a cover-up they could be culpable.
‘It’s also possible that This Morning could end up getting the axe.’
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Further to our statement last night, ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.
‘Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip’s then agency YMU.
Difficult times: It comes amid reports This Morning could face the axe if it emerges that show bosses ‘covered up’ Phillip Schofield ‘s affair with a younger, male ITV colleague
‘In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.
‘Phillip’s statement yesterday reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU, to the media and to others over this relationship.’
They went on to add: ‘As we said on the record earlier today, This Morning is not under review and there’s no plans for the show to be axed. This Morning will return on Monday.’
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