Latest news with #Pangolins:TheWorld'sMostWantedAnimal
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
ITV's The Genius Game show facing the axe after poor ratings
The Genius Game, fronted by David Tennant, launched with 1.2 million viewers but by the time its finale aired, that number had halved to just 661,000. In an unexpected twist, the final episode's ratings were matched by Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted Animal, which looked at why the scaly creatures are so endangered. READ MORE: David Tennant's Genius Game sparks mixed reactions A TV insider told the Scottish Sun: 'Publicly, ITV maintains that no firm decision has been taken, but most execs and commissioners view it as a disaster. 'Not only did it occupy a primetime 9pm slot, it had a big-name host and was seen as a potential rival for BBC's The Traitors. "But of the five main channels on June 11, it was beaten by two and equalled by BBC2, thanks to those pangolins.' READ MORE: Scots comedian and Hollywood star join forces as iconic series returns The Genius Game, which cost an estimated £2.5 million to produce, featured contestants competing in mental challenges. Despite the poor performance, ITV has not yet confirmed whether the show will return. An ITV spokesperson said to the Scottish Sun: "No decision has yet been made."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Top show 'at risk of axe' just weeks after first series as ITV offer update
Genius Game, hosted by David Tennant, launched earlier this year on ITV but there is already speculation about its future just weeks after its first series concluded last month There's speculation that ITV is "poised to axe" a show that launched just months ago. Genius Game drew comparisons to the Traitors but didn't reach the same viewing figures as its BBC rival in its first series, which aired earlier this year. Genius Game, which was hosted by David Tennant, saw eleven contestants compete in a series of games for the chance to win a cash prize. It launched in April and ran for eight episodes, with the finale having aired last month. The first episode, as previously reported, drew 1.2 million viewers but ratings dropped to 800,000 for the second episode. They are said to have reduced even further by the finale six weeks later and the show is now reportedly at risk. The Sun claims that ITV is "poised to axe" Genius Game. It reports that the show is believed to have cost £2.5 million but had an average audience of 661,000 by the end. The finale is said to have drawn the similar figures as a repeat of BBC Two 's Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted Animal. A source told the outlet that the game show is considered a "disaster" by some people. They claimed: "Publicly ITV maintains that no firm decision has been taken, but most execs and commissioners view it as a disaster. "Not only did it occupy a primetime 9pm slot, it had a big-name host and was seen as a potential rival for BBC's The Traitors. But of the five main channels on June 11, it was beaten by two and equalled by BBC2, thanks to those pangolins." A spokesperson for ITV however suggested to the Mirror this evening that the future of Genius Game following its debut series has yet to be decided. When approached for comment, they told us: "No decision has yet been made." As reported by Radio Times, according to Broadcast, BBC One show Race Across the World 's fifth season pulled in 4.2 million overnight viewers on June 11. That was the same night that Genius Game concluded with its own finale. According to figures, published by the outlet the following day, Genius Game did slightly surprass Pangolins - The World's Most Wanted Animal. It was listed as the third most watched show in its slot mong the five main channels. The outlet said that Race Across the World "blew away" its competition that night. It reported that an episode of Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts on 5 was the closest to reaching its success with overnight figures of 718,000. It added that Genius Game on ITV followed with 661,000 and then BBC Two's Pangolins - The World's Most Wanted Animal with 660,000 viewers at the time. Whilst an episode of Britain's Most Expensive Homes is said to have brought 597,000 viewers to Channel 4 in the same slot. The first series of Genius Game saw eleven contestants compete in a series of challenges, with one player typically eliminated after each one. Like in shows such as the Traitors, some contestants engaged in social strategies to help with their efforts in a bid to make it all the way to the final. Viewers saw comedian Ken Cheng and student Charlotte Yeung reach the final after seven episodes. The pair went head-to-head in the eighth episode, which ended with Ken being named the winner and Charlotte the runner-up.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
ITV's ‘most expensive flop in years' poised to be axed after reaching new low by having less viewers than nature doc
The show had debuted with 1.2 million viewers GAME OVER ITV's 'most expensive flop in years' poised to be axed after reaching new low by having less viewers than nature doc Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ITV is poised to axe expensive flop The Genius Game after its finale had the same viewing figures as a BBC2 show about pangolins. The reality game show hosted by David Tennant is believed to have cost £2.5million to make but drew an average audience of 661,000 by the end. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 ITV is axing expensive flop The Genius Game after low ratings, pictured host David Tennant Credit: ITV 2 The show's finale had the same viewing figures as a BBC2 show about pangolins Credit: Getty That was matched by Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted Animal which looked at why the scaly creatures are so endangered. A TV insider said: 'Publicly ITV maintains that no firm decision has been taken, but most execs and commissioners view it as a disaster. 'Not only did it occupy a primetime 9pm slot, it had a big-name host and was seen as a potential rival for BBC's The Traitors. "But of the five main channels on June 11, it was beaten by two and equalled by BBC2, thanks to those pangolins.' That night 4.2 million watched BBC1's Race Across the World. Channel 5's Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts had 718,000 viewers. The Genius Game, in which contestants take on mental challenges, drew 1.2 million at the start, slumping to 846,000 by episode two. ITV said: 'No decision has yet been made.' Pangolins live in Africa and Asia and are hunted for their keratin scales and meat, which are said to have medicinal qualities in China. ITV viewers switch off David Tennant's new gameshow after 10 minutes as they say it's 'too complicated' to understand Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
ITV's ‘most expensive flop in years' poised to be axed after reaching new low by having less viewers than nature doc
ITV is poised to axe expensive flop The Genius Game after its finale had the same viewing figures as a BBC2 show about pangolins. The 2 ITV is axing expensive flop The Genius Game after low ratings, pictured host David Tennant Credit: ITV 2 The show's finale had the same viewing figures as a BBC2 show about pangolins Credit: Getty That was matched by Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted Animal which looked at why the scaly creatures are so endangered. A TV insider said: 'Publicly ITV maintains that no firm decision has been taken, but most execs and commissioners view it as a disaster. 'Not only did it occupy a primetime 9pm slot, it had a big-name host and was seen as a potential rival for BBC's The Traitors. "But of the five main channels on June 11, it was beaten by two and equalled by BBC2, thanks to those pangolins.' read more on itv That night 4.2 million watched BBC1's Race Across the World. Channel 5's Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts had 718,000 viewers. ITV said: 'No decision has yet been made.' Most read in News TV Pangolins live in Africa and Asia and are hunted for their keratin scales and meat, which are said to have medicinal qualities in China. ITV viewers switch off David Tennant's new gameshow after 10 minutes as they say it's 'too complicated' to understand Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
