ITV's Celebrity Sabotage Sparks Viewer Disappointment After Premiere
ITV fans expressed widespread disappointment after tuning into the debut episode of the channel's new game show, Celebrity Sabotage, with many jeering over what they described as 'abysmal and juvenile' action. The programme, which aired over the weekend, features contestants unknowingly participating in a series of fabricated reality TV shows, designed to allow celebrities to sabotage the games for cash prizes.
Show Format and Star-Studded Lineup
Celebrity Sabotage sees regulars Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Sam Thompson, and GK Barry joined by different famous faces each week, including Jill Scott, Fay Ripley, Olivia Attwood, Jo Brand, Guz Khan, and Harry Redknapp. In each episode, unsuspecting contestants arrive believing they are taking part in a new ITV show, ranging from cooking challenges and relationship tests to business tasks and murder mystery games. ITV teased that these fake shows are completely made up, with believable hosts such as Clare Balding, Matt and Emma Willis, Monica Galetti, Jason Fox, Sara Davies, and Rylan Clark all in on the secret.
The first episode featured former Dragons' Den star Sara Davies as the host of a fake show called The Applicant, similar to the BBC's The Apprentice. Contestants were tasked with impressing Davies, with a £30,000 prize pot available if the celebrity saboteurs could successfully ruin the game through their antics and blame it on the contestants.
Viewer Reactions and Criticism
However, viewers at home were less than impressed, taking to social media platform X to voice their complaints. One user penned, 'This is as much fun as having a toothache, ITV churns out some rubbish and this one is right up there. It’s a waste of our time.' Another added, 'This is appallingly bad even for ITV. How long before it’s shunted to 4.30pm Sunday afternoon?' Further criticism included comments like, 'How do programmes like these ever get commissioned. Utter rubbish,' and 'How has Saturday night entertainment come to this?' A fifth viewer concluded, 'Who is the target audience for this my 8yo hasn't so much as smirked and I'm just about ready to turn it off.'
Daily Mail's TV reviewer Christopher Stevens gave the show a two-star review, hitting out at the 'semi-famous' celebrities involved, stating, 'The cruel fact is that all of them could have been wearing name badges and they'd still be unrecognisable.'
Defence and Praise for the Programme
Despite the backlash, some fans defended Celebrity Sabotage. One supporter wrote, 'Some negative miseries complaining, lighten up. Funny, daft, Saturday night telly, a bit of a laugh, much needed in this miserable country and even more miserable platform.' Others chimed in with praise, such as, 'I’m actually loving this programme,' and 'This was good!' Another fan said, 'Honestly I knew I was going to like Celebrity Sabotage, it’s a great show with a great cast and I really like how the fake shows are rip-offs of others. Definitely will be watching next week.'
Behind the Scenes and Future Episodes
Before the show aired, celebrity saboteur Joel Dommett heaped praise on the format, admitting the team 'enjoyed making' the new programme. He told PA, 'We had so much fun making it, and all I can hope is that the fun comes across on screen. We worked really hard to make it as fun as possible and to give some money to some really deserving people. Genuinely, this show has been one of the highlights of my career!' Dommett also shared a humorous anecdote about a stunt gone wrong during filming, involving a Great Dane and dog toys, which he described as 'one of the most frightening moments of my life.'
Celebrity Sabotage continues on Saturdays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, offering more chaotic entertainment with its unique blend of celebrity antics and fabricated reality scenarios.
