BBC Survivor tipped to be AXED following 'disaster' ratings as big-budget series fails to grab audiences

BBC Survivor tipped to be AXED following 'disaster' ratings as big-budget series fails to grab audiences

WATCH NOW: The BBC Survivor trailer

BBC
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 05/11/2023

- 07:00

The Beeb's latest reality show had a rather tricky start to life on the channel

Survivor's future on the BBC looks uncertain even though just two episodes have aired on BBC One, according to new data obtained by GB News.

The show pits 18 contestants against one another while split into two tribes on a Caribbean island where they face a range of physical and mental challenges with Joel Dommett overseeing the action.


It was reported earlier this week that BBC execs have since been in crisis talks due to the underwhelming reception Survivor's premiere received during its opening weekend.

Last Saturday, despite having a lead-in of around seven million Strictly viewers, Survivor's premiere only managed to attract an average of 2.6 million viewers.

The second episode on Sunday, October 29, which the Beeb even moved Planet Earth III in the schedule for, again failed to attract the masses as a reported two million tuned in - less than a repeat of Antiques Roadshow on BBC Two.

GB News has now discovered bookmakers fear the worst for the future of Survivor given its performance with audiences.

Joel Dommett and the cast of Survivor

Joel Dommett and the cast of Survivor

BBC

Survivor currently stands at odds-on to be axed with a price of 4/9 slapped on the reality show while punters can fetch 7/4 odds of Survivor making it to a second season

Lee Astley, Head of News for BettingSites.co.uk, exclusively told GB News: "The first episode was viewed by an average of 2.6m last Saturday - despite having a very lucrative lead-in with Strictly Come Dancing.

"The BBC then moved episode two into the Planet Earth III slot, which caused outrage amongst viewers and the ratings suffered another hit to 2.3m average.

"The show is extremely expensive to make... and with the expectation figures will drop even further this weekend, oddsmakers are confident the BBC will make sure the show doesn't 'survive' past its first series."

GB News has contacted the BBC for comment regarding Survivor's future.

The corporation previously defended the show after its first two episodes, with a spokesperson telling GB News: "In a world of on-demand viewing, programmes are not judged on overnight performance alone and iPlayer figures are still to come."

Reports of crisis talks at the Beeb came after an insider spoke out about the reaction Survivor's humble ratings reportedly received from bosses at the corporation.

An 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.

Joel Dommett

Joel Dommett is the face of the BBC's newest reality show

BBC

"They even moved Sir David Attenborough from his traditional 8pm slot," they continued before branding the ratings as "terrible news for the BBC" and "an absolute disaster".

The insider added to the Daily Mail: "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."

Survivor host Dommett hasn't addressed the reports of the show's dwindling ratings but has taken to social media to thank those who've shown support for the new programme.

Alongside a trailer for episode two, Dommett penned on Instagram last Sunday: "Survivor is finally HERE! Thanks for all your nice comments about episode one.. Episode two is tonight at 8pm after Strictly results or available on @bbciplayer NOW." (sic)

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