There is a question mark over Survivor’s future as the BBC is undecided whether to commission the reboot for a second season, Metro.co.uk understands.
The reality show returned last year in a primetime Saturday night slot with comedian Joel Dommett, 39, at the helm – and reportedly cost the broadcaster £30,000,000 to produce.
Like the original series which aired in the early 00s, Survivor saw 18 people compete in some of the toughest physical and psychological challenges on a desert island to win £100,000.
However, the programme faces the axe from the BBC, which has introduced a raft of cost-cutting measures to save £500million over the next few years, as it failed to attract audiences.
According to a source, Survivor is on the BBC’s chopping block because it was ‘not a hit’ and viewers found it ‘boring.’
They told the Daily Mail: ‘It was clear at the time it went out the show was not a hit. They threw everything at it, but although a lot had been changed, and many years had gone by since it was last on, it still did not work.
Survivor was reportedly in jeopardy after the first episode aired because it attracted just 2.6 million viewers on average, despite airing in the desirable post-Strictly slot of 8.25pm on Saturday.
It was approximately two million less than the figure Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel managed the week prior – which allegedly prompted crisis talks among TV execs.
‘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,’ a source told Daily Mail at the time.
However, Joel remained hopeful Survivor would return for a second season during an interview with Metro.co.uk earlier this year – although he admitted it needed an overhaul.
He said: ‘Fingers crossed… there’s a lot of stuff that we would do slightly differently.
‘Like with every first series, it’s hard, so I think a second series would be amazing.
‘Everyone seems to really love it, so I’m excited that – hopefully – [we get to] do another one.’
Survivor has been produced in countries across the world and last appeared on UK screens in 2001 and 2002, when it aired on ITV for two seasons.
The reality competition, which first aired in Sweden in 1997, celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.
The BBC said 50 versions of the programme have been commissioned around the world to date and the US adaptation has aired 46 seasons.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.
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