Out of the dog house? BBC One picks up Channel Seven’s Pooch Perfect hosted by Rebel Wilson despite dismal ratings in Australia
Rumours have been circulating that Rebel Wilson’s Pooch Perfect might be pulled by Channel Seven due to low ratings.
But despite dismal ratings in Australia, the UK’s BBC One has surprisingly picked up the rights to the struggling show.
BBC One will produce a new version of the series for the UK market, hosted by Sheridan Smith.
Out of the dog house? BBC One has picked up the rights to Channel Seven’s Pooch Perfect, which is hosted by Rebel Wilson
‘To combine my love of dogs with a brand new job presenting for the BBC was a match made in heaven,’ she told the Mirror Online.
The program is expected to go into production later this year and will be made by Seven Studios UK.
The dog grooming reality TV show brought in a measly 441,000 viewers in its prime time 7:30pm slot on Thursday, losing out to Channel 10’s Ambulance Australia.
New role: Gavin and Stacey actress Sheridan Smith (pictured) will be the host of the British version set to air on BBC and the dog-lover has described it as a ‘dream role’
Pooch Perfect is now attracting even less viewers in the five-city metro than My Kitchen Rules, which brought in 501,000 viewers before Rebel Wilson’s show took over its timeslot.
Last Thursday, Pooch Perfect premiered to 624,000 metro viewers, which Seven’s network director of programming Angus Ross was ‘happy’ about.
But in the space of one week, viewership has dropped by 223,000 viewers – a 29 per cent loss of audience for the second episode.
The old slot-holder: Pooch Perfect is now attracting even less viewers in the five-city metro than My Kitchen Rules, which brought in 501,000 viewers before Rebel Wilson’s show took over its timeslot. Pictured: MKR winners Kerry and Kaylene with Colin Fassnidge
The premiere episode of Pooch Perfect last week attracted more viewers than the final episode of MKR: The Rivals, growing the timeslot audience share by 25 per cent.
But the growth has been short-lived as Pooch Perfect brought in less viewers than Gogglebox on Channel 10 and Nine’s Hot Seat on Thursday.
Ouch! The reception of Rebel Wilson’s Pooch Perfect has not been favourable in both weeks that is aired
The reception of Rebel Wilson’s Pooch Perfect has not been favourable in both weeks that is aired.
‘Last week, I predicted this week would be make-or-break for Pooch Perfect on Channel 7. I’m calling it broken,’ one viewer wrote on Thursday.
Another viewer wrote: ‘Turned the TV on last night and caught about 3 mins of Pooch Perfect. If this show lasts more than 3 weeks I totally get why people in Australia are hoarding toilet paper.’
Ruff start: While some fans were fawning over the adorable rescue pups, others were left shocked by Rebel’s adult humour. Pictured with judges Colin Taylor and Amber Lewin
Parts of Pooch Perfect’s premiere were shown on Gogglebox this week, turning viewers away without even directly watching the show.
‘That was more than enough Pooch Perfect for me. Gogglebox Australia has just done us all a public service,’ one viewer wrote.
Last week, viewers slammed the show for it’s reliance on sexual innuendos with Rebel Wilson telling contestants to ‘stop scissoring’, a reference to pearl necklaces and calling female dogs ‘b***hes’.
Pooch Perfect continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven
Ironic: Parts of Pooch Perfect’s premiere were shown on Gogglebox this week, turning viewers away without even directly watching the show