The law of diminishing returns has struck again – with Richard & Judy’s trek from This Morning to Channel 4 to digital cul-de-sac coming to an abrupt end. The pair’s show on Watch will end in July and there’s talk of them pursuing separate projects.It was always a brave move; but was it foolhardy too? Should any celebrity really expect their fans to follow them wherever they pop up on the digital landscape? They certainly weren’t lacking in big name guests – everyone from Mirren to Rourke. However, my guess is that their core audience are probably people who still only have the five channels. If it’s a choice between a free edition of Paul O’Grady and a pay-per-view Richard and Judy, they’re always going to plump for the former. That said, long before R&J, Clive James successfully took his own brand of wry interviews online – with a succession of high profile intellectual conversations. The show is now in its sixth series and streamed through the much easier to find Times website. Maybe it’s something Melvyn Bragg will be carefully mulling over with the imminent demise of the South Bank Show?      

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