Big changes are coming to Canada’s long-running daytime talk show, The Social. Bell Media announced on Wednesday that, heading into its 14th season, the show is pivoting from a weekday broadcast to a “premium video podcast.” The new format will have some major differences from previous seasons — including the departure of co-host and moderator, Melissa Grelo.
The announcement from Bell Media shared that Grelo is leaving to “focus on her podcast, Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo.” Grelo shared the same in a statement on her own Instagram page, and shared some more insight behind her move.
“I’ve also always believed that when the world around you is changing, you can either hold tightly to what has been, or get curious about what comes next.”
New seasons of The Social, including the upcoming 14th season premiering on Sept. 9, will no longer have a studio audience, though the podcast will be filmed live on CTV’s Toronto set. Current co-hosts Jess Allen, Andrea Bain and Cynthia Loyst will all be returning to the show. Guests and in-depth interviews will also still be a part of this new format.
The Social premiered back in 2013, following a daytime television talk show format similar to The View or The Talk. Grelo has been with the show since the beginning, originally alongside Lainey Lui, Loyst and Traci Melchor, with Allen acting as a digital correspondent.
The “reimagined” format of The Social will be available weekdays at 2 p.m. on CTV, and it will also be streaming on Crave. The video podcast will also be available on iHeartRadio Canada, and in September, viewers can watch it live on The Social‘s YouTube channel.
