Several of Channel 4's most popular shows are set to be axed in an effort to save money, with insiders at the channel calling it a "bloodbath".
The broadcaster posted its strongest-ever financial performance in 2021, recording revenue of over £1 billion for the first time in its history.
However, it's now been revealed that four fan-favourite shows have been scrapped - Naked Attraction, hosted by Anna Richardson, Scared Of The Dark?, documentary Rescue: Extreme Medics, and the hugely publicised reboot of Four Weddings.
In addition to axing several shows, Channel 4 is also cutting down on episodes of some its shows in a further bid to save money.
One of the channel's most popular programmes The Last Leg, hosted by Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, will now only run for seven weeks instead of the originally planned nine as that is all it can afford.
Speaking to the Mail On Sunday a source said: "Everyone is calling it a Channel 4 bloodbath. At first, everyone was in total shock when Four Weddings was cancelled.
"It's almost unheard of that a show that is going really well is decommissioned, but as news started to spread, other shows were falling down too."
According to the insider, Channel 4 bosses Ian Katz and Alex Mahon have been going over the channel's entire output to see where cuts could be made.
Those working to cast for the new season of Naked Attraction were told they were no longer needed as they were not making another series.
With many freelancers now out of work due to the cuts, the source also claims staff are blaming Mr Katz for wasting money on reality series Rise And Fall, which failed to bring in the ratings and supposedly cost the channel over £14 million to make.
Earlier this year it was revealed the privatisation of Channel 4 had been scrapped in a major reversal of plans by Boris Johnson.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan announced the station will remain in public ownership, where it has been for 40 years.
Mr Johnson, humiliated when the station replaced him with a melting ice block in a 2019 debate and a senior figure called him a "known liar", had planned to flog Channel 4.
Channel 4 is publicly owned and non-profit but receives no taxpayer cash, instead being funded entirely through its commercial activity.
Instead of privatisation, reforms will "eventually allow Channel 4 to make and own some of its content", the government said.
This will include slowly raising Channel 4's 25% quota of shows that are independently produced.
Channel 4 have been approached for comment by the Mirror, however a spokesperson previously told another publication: "Channel 4 cares deeply about the Indie community and our wider supply chain of freelancers. They are the beating heart of our business.
"While we recognise the actions we are asking of some are causing some short-term pain, the plan we have in place underscores our ongoing commitment to our financial sustainability and our continued support of the UK's independent production sector
"The Executive Directors have already made the decision to defer retention payments and earlier this year declined a salary rise as part of a wider response to a very difficult ad-market in Q2, which is affecting all commercial broadcasters."