ITV’s ambitious plan to lure Graham Norton away from the BBC is reportedly facing major turmoil after his brand-new reality series The Neighbourhood suffered a dramatic ratings slump just weeks after launch.
The beloved presenter, who has long been one of the BBC’s biggest stars, shocked fans when he crossed over to ITV for the broadcaster’s latest reality TV experiment. Executives had reportedly hoped the project would become a huge long-term success and potentially pave the way for Graham to make an even bigger permanent move away from the BBC.
But insiders now claim the strategy has “backfired” after the show’s audience figures plummeted by its third episode.
A source claimed ITV had “thrown everything” at the programme in hopes of creating another reality TV sensation, saying: “It would be a huge coup to tempt Graham away from the BBC with a long-term project. They threw everything at The Neighbourhood to make it a big success, but it’s ended up a bit of a damp squib.”
The 11-part series was handed a major launch slot directly after the final of I’m A Celebrity All Stars, giving it one of the biggest television lead-ins possible. However, despite the prime-time exposure, viewing figures reportedly crashed to around 500,000 by episode three — sparking fears the programme could follow other ITV flops that were later cancelled.
The reality show sees households from across the UK battle it out in a neighbourhood-wide popularity contest, with a £250,000 prize awaiting the final family standing. Graham oversees the drama, introduces challenges and stirs tensions through a group WhatsApp chat.
But many viewers were left unimpressed from the very first episode.
One disappointed fan wrote online: “Oh my goodness it was dreadful. I have a huge capacity for ‘drivel’ TV but I couldn’t stay with this after 15 minutes. Awful TV.”
Another blasted ITV for “trying desperately” to recreate the magic of The Traitors, while others admitted they switched off within minutes.
Critics were equally harsh. Metro described the show as “the latest — and arguably boldest — brazen attempt to replicate the colossal success of The Traitors,” while The Guardian labelled it a “tired reality show” and criticised the lack of tension.
Despite the backlash, some viewers defended the programme, insisting it offered something refreshingly different from other reality formats.
One fan praised the casting, writing: “I actually really like all the families. This is the type of normal people we want cast on Big Brother.”
Before the show launched, Graham himself had sounded incredibly optimistic about the format. Speaking in 2025 after being announced as host, he said: “Like everyone, I’m always intrigued by what goes on behind closed doors. Add to that some dastardly challenges and a life-changing prize and I’m hooked. I feel confident that The Neighbourhood will be the nation’s favourite destination.”
Now, however, ITV insiders are reportedly facing growing questions over whether the broadcaster’s high-profile gamble on Graham Norton can truly pay off.
