November 8th 2024.
Recent reports have revealed that the popular TV show, Ninja Warrior UK, has been quietly taken off air. According to sources, the show has been officially scrapped by ITV after a successful nine-year run. The show first aired in 2015 and quickly became a hit, filling the void left by the beloved show, Gladiators, which ended in 2000 but was briefly revived in 2008 on Sky.
Unfortunately, it seems that the recent revival of Gladiators by the BBC has ultimately led to the downfall of Ninja Warrior. The BBC's version of the classic game show has been described as the "death knell" for Ninja Warrior, as it has been drawing in much higher ratings. In fact, the first finale of Gladiators in May 2015 had a staggering 4.08 million viewers, with a peak of 4.18 million in 2017, while Ninja Warrior's last series in 2022 only managed to pull in 1.6 million viewers.
It's no surprise that Ninja Warrior has been a huge success for ITV over the years, as it appealed to all those families who missed the excitement and thrill of Gladiators. The show's Race For Glory format, where contestants race against professional warriors, was a hit with viewers and closely resembled the original format of Gladiators.
However, it seems that ITV had no choice but to rest Ninja Warrior for good due to the overwhelming success of Gladiators. As a source revealed, the decision was made after the BBC's revival of Gladiators brought in over six million viewers, compared to Ninja Warrior's dwindling viewership. The show, which was hosted by Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes, and Chris Kamara, had been losing viewers since its return two years ago.
In contrast, the Gladiators reboot, hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, was a massive success when it premiered in January 2024. The show will also be returning for a second series in early 2025, as well as a celebrity special. For those unfamiliar with the show, Gladiators features four contestants competing in physically challenging events against a group of elite athletes known as the "Gladiators." The winners then face off in the final event, the Eliminator, to determine the ultimate champions.
The show's producer, Dan Baldwin, has even confirmed that the BBC has commissioned a celebrity spin-off of Gladiators, proving its popularity and success. He stated that reviving old shows is always a possibility, as they were great for a reason. As for Ninja Warrior, ITV has yet to comment on the reports.
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