ITV's attempt to lure Graham Norton away from the BBC appears to have backfired, with his new reality show 'The Neighbourhood' suffering a sharp decline in viewership. The 63-year-old presenter, who has been a staple at the BBC for decades, launched the series on ITV this year, but ratings have reportedly fallen to just 500,000 by the third episode.
The show, which features families competing in a street-sized popularity contest for a £250,000 prize, was given a prime-time preview slot during the final of 'I'm A Celebrity: All Stars'. However, a source described the offering as a 'damp squib', potentially jeopardising ITV's hopes of securing Norton on a permanent basis.
Graham Norton himself praised the show's wholesome nature, stating: 'One of the loveliest things about the show is seeing households who would never meet in real life, not only meeting but forming proper bonds of friendship.' Despite his enthusiasm, viewer reaction has been mixed, with some criticising the format and others drawing comparisons to 'The Traitors'.
One viewer wrote on X: 'Oh my goodness it was dreadful. I have a huge capacity for drivel TV but I couldn't stay with this after 15 minutes.' Another added: 'Turned it off, the biggest load of rubbish.' However, some fans expressed enjoyment, with one asking: 'Am I the only person who’s loving #TheNeighbourhood?'
