November 17, 2015updated 18 Nov 2015 2:37pm

Bauer announces plans to close lads’ mags FHM and Zoo with 20 editorial jobs at risk

Bauer Media has announced plans to suspend publication of lads' magazines FHM and Zoo.

The proposed closures, which would also affect the titles' websites, leave 20 editorial staff at risk of redundancy.

The announcement comes shortly after the closure of Loaded – which relaunched as a website last week – earlier this year, and Nuts, which ceased publication last year.

FHM recorded an average monthly circulation of 72,180 in the first half of 2015. This was down from more than 700,000 in 2000.

Zoo's average weekly circulation was 27,644 over the same period – down from more than 260,000 in 2005.

FHM was first published in 1985 as ‘For Him Magazine’. Its new name was introduced in 1994 when it went from quarterly to monthly.

Zoo was launched in 2004 at the same time as rival weekly Nuts.

Publisher Gareth Cherriman said: “I greatly appreciate Damien McSorley’s leadership and the dedication and effort from both teams.

"I would like to thank our advertisers and retailers who have supported the brands and I’m sure that everyone who has worked on FHM and ZOO over the years will be sorry to hear this news.”

The proposed closures mark the latest phase in the demise of a sector which has been hit by changes in society as well as the challenges of competing with new online media.