The show first aired 10 years ago, launching the TV careers of presenters Gaby Roslin and Chris Evans. The show successfully engaged viewers in the lucrative 18-34 market and ratings reached a high of as much as 1m.
This success continued after Roslin and Evans departed to be replaced by the popular combination of Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan.
However, since Van Outen and Vaughan exited, the show's ratings have fallen to less than 500,000 viewers despite attempts to inject new life into the show.
The show's most recent relaunch -- seen by the industry as a last-ditch attempt to save the flagging show -- included the introduction of comedian Paul Tonkinson and presenter Donna Air. It failed miserably as the pair were unsuccessful in winning back former viewers.
Channel 4 has been hesitant to ditch the show because of a complicated contract it has with the show's producer Planet 24, which requires the channel to give the production house a year's notice.
Planet 24 and a number of other production companies have been commissioned to come up with a replacement for the Big Breakfast.
Channel 4's remit is to provide alternative programming. The channel now has to choose whether to opt for a news-based show or an entertainment-led offering in a bid to lure back the lucrative viewers it has lost to Channel 5, Sky One and music channels such as MTV and VH1.