Noel Edmonds’ The Price Is Right knock-off Cheap Cheap Cheap is a total flop after getting dire ratings
IT’S a good thing Channel 4 is bringing back The Price Is Right because the knock-off version has flopped badly.
NOEL EDMONDS’ comeback show Cheap Cheap Cheap got dire ratings on its debut on Monday, being beaten by a raft of repeated programmes on rival channels.
The new daytime offering, a game show set in a shop in which pairs of contestants win money by correctly picking the cheapest of three similar items, was watched by only 200,000 people at one point.
At its best, Cheap Cheap Cheap got just 270,000 viewers.
That was less than repeats of Monkey Planet on BBC2, Tenable on ITV and BBC1’s Escape To The Country.
Incredibly, the show is set to run for another six weeks, every weekday, despite its shocker of a start.
A TV source confirmed: “This was meant to be a big launch for Noel and Channel 4 but it has started in the worst possible way.
“For the show to get fewer viewers than a load of repeats across the board is just mortifying. It looks like it was made on a shoestring budget and the ratings reflect that.”
The hour-long programme, padded out by unfunny characters who roam the old shop’s set, is Noel’s first hosting gig on Channel 4 since it was announced Deal Or No Deal had been axed in August 2016.
The cult hit officially came to an end in December 2016 after a run of more than 11 years.
Noel describes his new telly venture as “a game show that thinks it’s a sitcom”.
Unfortunately for Channel 4, the only thing funny about Cheap Cheap Cheap is its ratings.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Michelle bags some time off
MICHELLE KEEGAN enjoyed a rare day off from filming to have lunch with husband MARK WRIGHT and her parents in Essex.
The actress has been shooting the second series of BBC drama Our Girl in South Africa, so is enjoying being on home turf.
The couple are savouring time together before Mark flies off to LA where he has landed a job presenting on US show Extra.
Towie Mike Hass quit boozing
TOWIE’S MIKE HASSINI got axed from the cast last year after he was found guilty of drink-driving.
But he has now turned his life around after quitting partying.
In an exclusive interview in Marbella, ahead of his return to the ITVBe show, he said: “I haven’t had a drink for the last six months.
“I’m not saying I won’t ever drink again but I will never go back to being a party boy, going out five times a week. It did me no good.” He has grown close to JAMES “ARG” ARGENT, who is also returning to Towie after battling drug and drink issues.
Mike said: “He’s had a similar experience. We are both not drinking and it is much easier when you have someone to do it with.”
Mike issued a warning to fellow cast member DAN EDGAR, who has been living it up lately.
He said: “He has been partying a lot and seeing a lot of girls.
“He smashed it up in Ibiza, out until eight in the morning.”
Let’s hope Dan learns from the other lads’ mistakes.
Harry chief's flock and awe
HARRY Potter producer David Heyman hopes to work his magic on a TV version of The Birds.
The movie mastermind, responsible for all the wizard films, is turning his hand to telly by making a version of the story first brought to screen in 1963 by ALFRED HITCHCOCK.
The BBC series will be adapted from DAPHNE DU MAURIER’s 1952 book about a town besieged by birds.
David is also adapting KAREN BLIXEN’S Out Of Africa as a ten-parter.
The Beeb is in it to bin it
FANS of DALE WINTON’s game show In It To Win It hoped it might survive after the BBC axed the live National Lottery broadcast.
But I can reveal the Beeb has scrapped the series, which ran for 172 episodes over 14 years.
In the show, five hopefuls competed in a general knowledge quiz to win a life-changing sum of money. It’s a blow for Dale who has been absent from our screens for a year.
A BBC spokesman said: “With the Saturday National Lottery draws no longer broadcasting on BBC1, there are no plans for In It To Win It to return. We would like to thank Dale and 12 Yard Productions for all their hard work over the years.”
ITV should bring Dale back in Supermarket Sweep.
Soapbox
NORRIS is shocked to find there has been a break-in at his shop in CORONATION STREET. But as police survey the ransacked Kabin, there is no sign of a forced entry.
When Rita discovers £100 stolen from her purse, she realises someone has been in her bag and could have used her keys to get into the shop.
She confronts Gemma – who tearfully insists she would never do such a thing.
In HOLLYOAKS, Warren struggles to cope with the stress of Sienna’s surgery on top of the blackmailer’s texts.
Joel tries to calm him down but another text sends Warren spiralling out of control.
Later, Warren spots his hooded blackmailer and gives chase – but he is in for a real shock when he discovers just who it is.
—KEM CETINAY has got unusual money worries over his £25,000 Love Island prize fund, saying: “I’m not tight, but I get scared to spend too much money – it’s just the way I am. The only chance I’ve had is with some online shopping.”
—SARA COX will take a Bradford family Back In Time next year when the intriguing BBC2 series returns. Bolton-born presenter Sara said: “I was so excited when I heard I’d got this job I almost choked on my black pudding.”