Graham Norton's reality show 'The Neighbourhood' has been pulled from its primetime slot on ITV just weeks after its debut, following a significant drop in viewership. The programme, which marked Norton's first venture into reality television, originally aired at 9pm but has now been rescheduled to a later time of 10.45pm. Reports indicate that by the third episode, audience numbers had dwindled to merely 500,000 viewers.
Show Format and Initial Launch
The series, set on a fictional street, features real-life households competing to be named the most popular and win a £250,000 prize. Despite extensive promotion and an enviable launch slot between the explosive two-part 'I'm A Celebrity... South Africa' final on Friday 24 April, the show failed to maintain its audience. Initially, two episodes per week were scheduled at 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
Schedule Changes
From Thursday 7 May, 'The Neighbourhood' will air nearly two hours later than its original slot. The vacated primetime hours will now feature a 2024 episode of 'Long Lost Family' on Thursday and a celebrity special of 'Beat The Chasers' from 2021 on Friday. An ITV spokesperson stated: 'The full box set of The Neighbourhood is now available to stream on ITVX. Additionally, the show will continue to air in an evening slot on ITV.'
Possible Reasons for Low Ratings
While full viewing figures for the third and fourth episodes are still being calculated, the low numbers may partly stem from the availability of all 11 episodes on ITVX as a box set. In a three-star review, The Independent's Katie Rosseinsky compared the series unfavourably to 'The Traitors', noting that while there are enjoyably big characters and sweet smaller interactions, the show lacks the psychological intrigue of its competitor. She commented: 'For now, though, there’s not quite enough to ensure that viewers will want to stick around for the full duration of the tenancy.'
