AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay’s fashion series M&S: Dress the Nation has been cancelled after two seasons on ITV.
The series first aired in 2024 and was watched by eight million people, as per stats provided by ITV.
The latest season focused on womenswear and menswear design and documented M&S’s search for the very best emerging fashion designer over the course of five 60-minute episodes.
A spokeswoman for ITV told Radio Times: “Following two series of Dress the Nation, unfortunately we won’t be commissioning another at this time.
“However, we look forward to continuing our work with M&S and South Shore this summer on the six series of Cooking with the Stars and the fourth series of Tom Kerridge Cooks.”
The series followed a group of candidates who competed to secure an exclusive mentorship with M&S, where they would work with some of the best in the industry across design, buying, merchandising and marketing.
The winner then had their design sold exclusively in selected M&S stories and online for the forthcoming autumn and winter season.
The format was launched by M&S CEO, Stuart Machin, inspired by his love of fashion and passion for supporting people looking to start a career in retail no matter what their life experience or background.
Maddy Evans, director of M&S woman, Lisa Illis, head of womenswear design, and Mitch Hughes, menswear director, were on the judging panel for the series, and they were joined by a host of M&S ambassadors and a star-studded lineup of celebrity judges, as well as some of the UK’s leading fashion designers.
Sharry Cramond, M&S fashion, home & beauty marketing director, said of season 2 at the time: “After the incredible response to Series 1, with EIGHT MILLION viewers, we knew we had something special on our hands. This series takes it up another level – more fashion, more creativity, more amazing energy.
“Dress The Nation gives viewers an exclusive insight into the energy, creativity and passion embedded within the M&S brand, and a glimpse of how we create the magic, that our customers can’t get enough of!
“At the centre of it all is our incredible designers, who each week delivered fresh and exciting design skills, reflecting the incredible emerging talent we’re seeing across the UK. We were thrilled to join forces again with ITV and South Shore, and we are incredibly proud and excited to launch series two.”
M&S Dress the Nation is available to watch on ITVX.
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