Vaughan and Joly axed

Johnny Vaughan and Dom Joly have had their chat shows shelved by the BBC after failing to attract young viewers.

The presenters, whose deals with the corporation have cost almost £5million, were billed as the stars of the new digital channel BBC3.

But just six months on from its February launch, the spoof chat show This Is Dom Joly has been axed while Johnny Vaughan Tonight has been put on hold indefinitely.

At one point, the programme hosted by Vaughan, 36, every week night won just 58,000 viewers.

There were also disappointing ratings for Joly, who is best-known for Trigger Happy TV on Channel 4 and for his bellowing businessman character who shouts 'Hello' into a giant mobile phone.

The corporation had trumpeted the programmes as flagship shows for BBC3's target audience of the under-30s.

But they were missing from the

channel's autumn schedule when it was unveiled yesterday.

BBC3 controller Stuart Murphy said Vaughan will present a variety-style show in the autumn.

'Johnny's not doing a chat show this season,' he said.

'He is doing another show called Johnny Vaughan Live which we

are finalising and will perhaps have a mix of bands and guests.

'We will see how that goes before thinking about what to do next.'

He added that This Is Dom Joly, which has run for two series, 'probably won't return'. Mr Murphy said: 'He's not sure where he can take it next. He ' s working on things that are more mainstream.

'He has things in development for BBC1 and BBC2 that have taken priority.'

Critics said it was inevitable that rivals would be hit by the competition for guests from the Michael Parkinson and Jonathan Ross chat shows on BBC1.

Vaughan also suffered a setback when his BBC2 sitcom 'Orrible, which he wrote and starred in, was axed after just one series.

However, he will be prominent on BBC1 as presenter of the forthcoming revival of the sports competition Superstars.

He is also developing a Saturday night show on the channel with Denise Van Outen, his former cohoston The Big Breakfast on Channel 4. The BBC signed both Vaughan and Joly from the rival station.

Vaughan joined two years ago for £2million and then signed a one-year deal in May.

His new show, Johnny Vaughan Live, will be aired once a week.

Joly was given a £1million twoyear deal in December 2001 and has produced two series of his ill-fated chat show.