TV favourite Steph McGovern has revealed she’s returning to the BBC after leaving the broadcaster in 2019.

Steph McGovern is returning to the BBC (Image: Getty)

After nearly two years since Steph’s Packed Lunch was abruptly pulled off-air by Channel 4, the beloved presenter Steph McGovern is set to make a triumphant return to our screens with an array of fresh projects. The telly favourite has unveiled her latest career venture, which will see her reuniting with the BBC as a presenter, after parting ways with the broadcaster in 2019 to join Channel 4.

From 2020 until 2023, Steph, 43, hosted her own chat show on Channel 4, broadcasting daily from Leeds. The programme, Steph’s Packed Lunch, offered celebrity interviews, cooking segments and a rundown of the day’s top stories. However, due to disappointing viewing figures, the daytime TV show was dramatically cancelled in December 2023. Since then, Steph has graced other shows as a presenter, including Sunday Brunch, and participated in Netflix’s reality series Bear Hunt, reports the Mirror.

Steph’s Packed Lunch was axed in 2023 (Image: Channel 4)

Now, the TV star is making a comeback to the BBC, announcing that she’s slated to host two brand new programmes and contribute to an already popular show.

“Big work news. I can’t tell you the specifics yet. But it involves hosting 3 shows all out in the next 12 months,” Steph revealed in an Instagram post.

“1) A brand new series on BBC One daytime (Not a magazine/chat show). 2) A brand series on BBC Two evenings (Still not a magazine/chat show).

“3) A longstanding TV programme that’s been going nearly as long as I have been alive. I AM ABSOLUTELY BUZZING!!!”

She chose not to reveal precise details and penned in the caption: “Thank you to everyone who has been sending me such lovely messages about my new TV stuff coming up (even though I haven’t told you what they are yet).

“Sorry for those hoping it would be [Steph’s Packed Lunch] coming back……it’s deffo not that.”

Steph was previously part of the BBC Breakfast team (Image: BBC)

Steph was flooded with congratulatory messages from her supporters, with numerous fans celebrating the news of her television comeback.

Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies declared: “Can’t wait to see you back on our screens more often! !” whilst former Gogglebox favourite Scarlett Moffat chimed in: “So glad you’re back.”

One admirer remarked, “Because you’re brilliant. You inspire so many people and you never forget your roots,” whilst another enthused, “Amazing! But bring back Packed Lunch! It was great!”

Steph previously formed part of the BBC Breakfast presenting team as one of the programme’s established hosts.

She launched her broadcasting journey at the corporation by taking calls for Radio 4’s Money Box programme during her studies, before progressing to become a current affairs researcher and subsequently the producer of financial news on the Today programme.

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