Channel 4 scraps ‘hugely expensive flop’ which was supposed to rival hit reality TV rival, The Traitors
CHANNEL 4 have confirmed they’re axing hugely expensive reality TV show Rise and Fall, which was mooted as a rival to BBC1’s The Traitors.
In a move which will be seen as reflecting the channel’s ailing fortunes, it won’t be returning for a second series despite it costing millions to make.
The 18-episode show, hosted by GREG JAMES, came from the same production company as The Traitors, Studio Lambert, and also featured two groups of people in one space competing to get hold of a large cash jackpot.
But after disappointing viewing figures, a huge question has hung over the future of the project ever since it dropped in March of last year.
A TV insider said: “This won’t come to a shock to anyone within the TV industry as Rise and Fall is widely considered to be a very costly flop.
“It is one of the most pricey productions Channel 4 have aired in recent years but there were high hopes it might tap into some of the energy of The Traitors which was an instant hit when it aired in 2022.
“There was a small chance that they might have had another stab at making Rise and Fall a hit, but in the current climate C4 can’t justify shelling out millions on a project that is unlikely to get the viewing figures.”
Channel 4 has been hard hit by falling ad revenues in recent years and in May had a 4.48% audience share – the worst four-week figure in its 41-year history.
Bosses have axed the civilian version of SAS Who Dares Wins and no longer airs its only soap, Hollyoaks, on the linear channel.
Disappointing daytime show Steph’s Packed Lunch was also scrapped.
A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: “Rise and Fall was a great show that we were very proud of and attracted strong audiences, but Channel 4 is all about the new and we want to make space for the next great new reality idea.
“We would like to thank Greg and the talented team who made such a hugely fun and innovative show.”