'BBC blew millions on Survivor reboot - beaten by repeat of Antiques Roadshow'

02 November 2023 , 21:28

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Joel Dommett on Survivor (Image: BBC/Remarkable)

I’m sure the BBC’s top spin doctors are desperately searching for ways right now to declare its expensive “new” reality show a massive success.

However, the impact Survivor had on viewers was already summed up by a news report that followed its debut on BBC1 at the weekend: “On Sunday night it was beaten in the ratings by a repeat of The Antiques Roadshow on BBC2 – which had been moved from BBC1 to make way for it.”

Admittedly, it was the one where Fiona Bruce and the team brought us that classy portrait of Helen Mirren – so I couldn’t really blame anyone for wanting to watch again. Other viewers, the ones with established Sunday night routines, were livid that the BBC had moved it in the first place. Further proof that clueless fools who casually discard a much-loved TV institution do so at their own peril.

The Survivor contestants (BBC/Remarkable)

Still, I’m sure someone will explain why the BBC blew millions of our money on a reboot of a 20-year-old reality show, where it’s already looking like the true “Sole Survivor” at the end of the series will be its one remaining viewer. When ITV exhumed Big Brother you could kind of see the rationale – it’s a legendary format that has always maintained a degree of originality.

Survivor wasn’t even that much of a hit the first time around. It hasn’t aged well either. Back in 2001 it looked fresh and exciting. Now the innovator looks like a tired old mash-up of everything that followed it. Then there’s the bizarre scheduling. At this time of year we want Claudia Winkleman in chunky knitwear in a homely Scottish castle, not Joel Dommett and loads of Love Island types fannying about on a Caribbean beach.

TOWIE's Chloe Brockett makes cheeky dig at Saffron Lempriere during filming

The problem is there are still another 14 episodes to go. I suppose the schedulers could bury their heads in the sand and leave Survivor where it is until we all get lost in Christmas. However, I’d be tempted instead to heed an instruction with which shouty Mr Dommett is already very familiar. Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!

Ian Hyland