BBC's Survivor is 'AXED after just one series' despite bosses splurging £30 million on the reboot series
The reality show which had a prime time slot straight after Strictly Come Dancing.and is understood to have cost the BBC £30 million, failed to win over UK viewers, averaging just 2.6million when it aired last October.
After months of speculation, host Joel Dommett confirmed the axe and admitted to The Sun: 'It just shows you how nothing is a given in telly. I thought Survivor would be huge. I thought that would be my job for the next 20 years.'
The TV presenter, 40, added: 'I've done shows and thought that's not coming back and it keeps coming back and then you do something like Survivor, which you think is guaranteed and it doesn't come back.'
The challenge show sees contestants live on a remote location where they are tasked with fending for themselves by sourcing food and water, building shelter, and making fire, all while trying to earn rewards and immunity from being voted off the island.
The hit format has enjoyed global success, especially in the US, where it's run for 25 years, but it seems the UK version, failed to translate.
Despite a previous attempt by ITV, which ended after two series in 2001 and 2002, the BBC tried to revive the format when it premiered last October and filmed in the Dominican Republic.
It is thought producers had hoped to cash in on the nostalgia of the early-2000s version, but bosses were left scratching their heads at the lack of love for a concept 'beloved around the globe'.
The cancellation comes just a year after filming wrapped, with a source telling The Sun that executives had been debating the show's future since its lukewarm launch.
Despite the flop, Joel remains in high demand and is set to front the National Television Awards in September and star in ITV's new Celebrity Sabotage.
Earlier this month The Daily Mail reported that the BBC did seek potential contestants for a second series, at the end of last year, via their 'take part' page.
However, a note on the Survivor UK website says casting has now been paused, adding: 'As things stand, we are not processing or taking any further applications at this time.'
Staff on the show have all moved to other projects.
Paul Osborne, who successfully brought Big Brother to Channel 5, was the showrunner for the BBC, and took soundings from format consultants around the world about how it should be updated.
Osborne said at the launch: 'There were lots and lots of things we learned from other territories, while we were also able to put our own stamp on this.
'There is a little more strategic gameplay with the new version that is palpable for a modern audience.'
Survivor was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC's head of entertainment, who described its return as a 'renaissance rather than a reboot'. She had hoped it would attract an audience similar to the Beeb's smash-hit The Traitors.
Sixteen episodes were filmed in 34 days, with 100 camera crew from the UK, plus more than 400 local workers.
The £100,000 top prize was won by graduate Matthew Hayward, from Cumbria. The two original series had a prize of £1 million.
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