What was meant to be The Neighbourhood’s grand arrival as a primetime juggernaut has quickly turned into one of the most awkward reversals of the year.
Despite a glossy launch and heavy promotion, ITV has dramatically pulled the show from its coveted 9pm slot — pushing it into a late-night “graveyard” position and quietly dumping the remaining episodes onto ITVX after ratings nosedived.
The series, fronted by the ever-reliable Graham Norton, was originally designed to rival the runaway success of The Traitors. But the reality couldn’t be more different.
After debuting to a modest 1.2 million viewers, the show hemorrhaged audience interest, plunging to just 500,000 by episode three — a drop that insiders say left executives with little choice but to act fast.
The format, which sees everyday households competing in games for a £250,000 prize, failed to spark the buzz ITV had hoped for — even after being strategically launched during the finale of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! to capture a built-in audience.
An ITV spokesperson attempted to soften the blow, confirming the full box set is now available on ITVX, while the show will continue airing later in the evening. But behind the scenes, the move signals a clear retreat.
Critics were quick to pile on. Reviews labelled the show a “tired reality experiment,” with one outlet noting that even Norton “can’t save this trippy format.” Others went further, with viewers branding it “drivel TV” and “the biggest load of rubbish” across social media.
Still, not everyone has turned away. A small but vocal group of fans praised the show’s focus on “normal families,” with some even claiming it deserved a Saturday primetime slot over bigger names.
Before the launch, Norton himself admitted he had initially planned to turn the project down — only to change his mind after hearing the pitch, saying it was “so good I have to say yes.”
Now, that decision is being viewed in a very different light.
