Holly Willoughby’s The Games axed after just one series, ITV confirms
25.08.2022 - 17:11
/ msn.com
Holly Willoughby and Freddie Flintoff-fronted show The Games won’t be returning to ITV after scoring mixed reviews from viewers earlier this year. The Olympics-style game show saw a crop of celebrities take part in a series of events across a week of live broadcasting. Stars such as Christine McGuinness, Love Island’s Wes Nelson and former Strictly Come Dancing pro, Kevin Clifton, competed in track and field events, as well as swimming, diving, climbing and slalom canoeing.
However, despite high hopes for the high-energy series, it has now been axed by ITV after just one outing. The Games was hit with low ratings, despite being broadcast live in a prime-time slot for viewers. After clocking up about 2 million viewers on its launch night, ratings quickly slid, with 500,000 viewers dropping off by the following evening.
It also faced the challenge of being up against Willoughby’s other show, Freeze The Fear, from self-proclaimed ice man, Wim Hof. Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, confirmed alongside The Games, another ITV show had also been shelved after just one series. Walk The Line, which the broadcaster was reportedly hoping to be ‘the next X Factor’, won’t be returning either.
Speaking as part of a panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday, she said: ‘They aren’t coming back, no. ’It featured a judging panel of Gary Barlow, Craig David, Dawn French and Alesha Dixon. The singing competition was co-produced by Simon Cowell’s company Syco and hosted by Maya Jama in 2021.