BBC's Destination X ripped to shreds by viewers AND critics - as they 'switch off' just minutes into premiere and swipe 'it's nowhere close to Race Across The World or The Traitors'

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

The new BBC show, Destination X, has been ripped to shreds by both viewers and critics alike as they 'switched off' just minutes into its premiere.
Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon, 60, stepped into new territory as host of the ambitious reality series, which combines elements of The Traitors and Race Across The World.
In the show, the comedian leads a series of contestants around the world in blacked-out coaches and helicopters, before they compete in a series of challenges to determine where they've ended up.
Each episode sees the players gathering in a map room on the bus to log their location guesses.
The differences in their answers can be drastic, even though they all receive the same clues, leading to dramatic eliminations and second-guessing.
However, viewers who watched the first episode on Wednesday were unimpressed, despite the success of the US version of the programme, which is presented by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
They flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to all share the same complaint - that they found the show 'boring'.
One viewer wrote: 'This is really f***ing boring.'; 'Anyone else feeling a bit bored?'
Meanwhile, another grumbled that they were 'switching off' after giving the show 20 minutes of their time.
'What a shame that the contestants go to all these lovely places and don't even get to see them!'; 'Pitched as The Traitors meets Race Across The World, ummm I don't think so! Nowhere close.'
The reality competition didn't impress critics either, with The Guardian rating it just three out of five stars.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph rated the show two out of five stars, claiming 'the most exciting moment of Destination X is when someone breaks a fingernail.'
The Evening Standard also gave the show a mediocre three stars, meanwhile, The Times called it a 'convoluted mess', writing 'The Traitors wannabe is as iffy as Rob Brydon's blazer'.
The show receiving bad reviews is a disaster for the BBC as a £100,000 prize pot is up for grabs, meaning it's potentially wasted cash.
The big-budget production was filmed across 32 days, with 190 crew members needing 7,000 hotel rooms in 30 different hotels across 11,000km of Europe.
In the first episode, a group of thirteen travellers met each other at a busy airport.
However, there was a shocking twist in store for them, as they were told only 10 players would make it through to continue the game.
Host Rob called the players towards him, saying: 'The game is observation, deduction and alliance building.
'And all the time you should have one question in mind - "Where in the world am I?".'
He added: 'There are 13 of you in front of me, but only ten of you will be progressing beyond these doors.
'There are numerous suitcases strewn around. I would like you each to bring me one that weighs the maximum hand baggage allowance of 10kg.'
The contestants then scrambled about the airport attempting to weigh various suitcases, and chaos ensued as clothes were discarded from each one.
Rob mentioned there were numerous suitcases strewn around the airport, and the first six to bring him one weighing 10kg would go through. While the final four had to bring him a trinket or souvenir from one of the passengers previously mentioned
Retired Detective Sergeant Claire, Economics Graduate Ashvin and Historian Chloe-Anne were sent packing as they didn't make it through to the next round
Rob then remarked that only the first six people would be given an exclusive lounge access card.
Once six of them successfully got through, Rob then told the remaining contestants that only another four would go through, and three would be sent packing.
He explained that the first four of them to bring him a trinket or souvenir from one of the passengers previously mentioned at the airport - that would be their key to a boarding pass.
So, the pressure was on as the remaining contestants searched keyrings, mugs, and gifts in the airport, attempting to remember the passengers' names.
Retired Detective Sergeant Claire, Economics Graduate Ashvin and Historian Chloe-Anne were left waiting behind.
Rob said: 'Claire, Ashvin and Chloe-Anne, I'm afraid it's goodbye. Please leave the airport.'
Then he added: 'Well, that doesn't feel nice,' to the camera.
Viewers of the show flocked to social media claiming it's 'harsh' to boot contestants out on day one.
One wrote: 'Hate early eliminations in games like this - all the players will have taken time out of their lives to play, seems harsh to boot them day one.';
Another speculated: 'Unless there's a twist involving the players removed.'
While a third said: 'They're going to do a traitors and bring those 3 back, aren't they?'