Despite costing the BBC an estimated £30 million, the new series Survivor apparently failed not get the projected number of viewers.
The reality show premiered on Saturday at 8.25pm, just after Strictly Come Dancing, yet it only drew 2.6 million people on average, according to reports.
This is around two million fewer than Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel earned the previous week.
The premiere, presented by Joel Dommett, did not appear to be able to capitalise on the eight million people watching the always-popular Strictly Come Dancing and the marketing campaign leading up to its release.
Now, executives are said to be meeting in a crisis to figure out how to boost ratings for the remaining 14 episodes.
A TV insider said: ‘It’s crazy. BBC One had a winning Saturday and Sunday night schedule that would have seen it safely through to Christmas – and the panicking bosses just ripped it up to make room for a show that cost so much of licence payers’ money that they could not afford for it to flop.’
According to reports, David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III was shifted from its Sunday 8pm slot for the second episode of Survivor, which drew 2.2 million views – fewer than a rerun of the Antiques Roadshow on BBC2.
‘It is terrible news for the BBC, it is an absolute disaster. It cost a fortune and it is just not appealing to the masses – conversations are now taking place as to what can be done to turn things around, quickly,’ they added to the Daily Mail.
The series has 18 people competing in some of the most difficult physical and psychological tests in order to win £100,000.
The participants were transported from the United Kingdom to the Dominican Republic and divided into two tribes. They will eventually merge if enough individuals are voted out of the tribal council. They will then face off against each other, as there can only be one winner!
The series ran on ITV in the United Kingdom in 2001 and 2002 before being relaunched this year with Joel, 38, at the helm. It began in America and has since grown to become a successful global franchise.
Some people were upset that Survivor had taken over the prime time slot on television.
‘#Survivor is definitely not a Saturday night TV show. Saturdays should be for dancing/singing competitions, quiz shows and chat shows. This is boring, come on @BBCOne bring back #TheWheel and all will be forgiven,’ wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter.
#Survivor is definitely not a Saturday night TV show.
Saturdays should be for dancing/singing competitions, quiz shows and chat shows.
This is boring, come on @BBCOne bring back #TheWheel and all will be forgiven!
— 𝕂𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕖 (@Katie_Lewis_) October 28, 2023
Shouldn’t this be buried on a Thursday night or something? Pretty dull so far, even the ITV version with Mark Austin that flopped seemed better. #Survivor
— Caroline Nicholas (@carolvnicholas) October 28, 2023
#Survivor on @BBCOne is crap. Gave it 20minutes and it's dull. Bring back #TheWheel
— McFlyFan-2024 (@McFly_World) October 28, 2023
#SurvivorUK my teen daughter and I loved the first 2 episodes and can't wait for the next. Don't understand what all the negative comments are about but as massive Suvivor fans we think it's great and about time! Please keep going. @BBC_Casting @BBCOne#Survivor https://t.co/ASk2ah8M5K
— Family Travel Explore (@ExploreFamily) October 30, 2023
Another critic added: ‘Shouldn’t this be buried on a Thursday night or something? Pretty dull so far, even the ITV version with Mark Austin that flopped seemed better. #Survivor’
‘#Survivor on @BBCOne is crap. Gave it 20minutes and it’s dull. Bring back #TheWheel,’ remarked another.
It wasn’t all negative some viewers rushed to the defence of the reboot: ‘#SurvivorUK my teen daughter and I loved the first 2 episodes and can’t wait for the next. Don’t understand what all the negative comments are about but as massive Suvivor fans we think it’s great and about time! Please keep going.’
It has also been claimed that it is a success on the channel’s catch-up service.
