Danny Dyer has responded to critics who claim his new ITV game show, Nobody's Fool, is too similar to the BBC's hit series The Traitors. The 48-year-old actor, best known for his role in EastEnders, will host the show alongside his Rivals co-star Emily Atack.
The programme, premiering on ITV1 and ITVX this Saturday at 9pm, features ten contestants living in a 'Smart House' and completing daily tasks to prove their intelligence, with a potential prize pot of up to £100,000. A key twist allows contestants to lie to avoid being labelled the 'weakest' and voted out, drawing inevitable comparisons to The Traitors.
Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio, Dyer acknowledged the similarities but insisted the show has its own identity. 'It does sound a bit like The Traitors … but it's got its own energy,' he said. 'I actually watch it unfold on the television and I would sit back and, you know, it's a different kind of thing.'
This is not ITV's first attempt at a similar format. The Genius Game, hosted by David Tennant, was axed after one series last year, reportedly costing £2.5 million and attracting only 600,000 viewers. Graham Norton's The Neighbourhood was also cancelled shortly after its finale due to poor ratings, while Fortune Hotel with Stephen Mangan was dropped after two seasons despite initial success.
Dyer remains optimistic, calling the show 'a blinder of a TV show' and adding, 'It's unlike anything I've seen before. Emily and I had a brilliant time making it and, much like the audience at home will be, we kept guessing right until the very end.' Atack echoed his enthusiasm, saying, 'It's so exciting to be part of something this new and fresh.'
