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Graham Norton's ITV programme The Neighbourhood has been axed from its primetime slot barely two weeks after its debut. The presenter, 63, takes centre stage in the broadcaster's new gameshow format, in which real-life households have come together in a specially constructed neighbourhood for the chance to scoop a £250,000 cash prize.

Hopes were clearly high for the series when it launched between both instalments of the explosive I'm A Celebrity...South Africa final on April 24, and has since been airing at 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays, where it has managed to attract just half a million viewers.

However, newly released schedules have confirmed that the programme will now air at 10.45pm, stripping it of the coveted slot it was originally handed - a clear indication that it has fallen short of expectations in terms of audience figures.

This Thursday, viewers switching on at 9pm will instead be treated to a repeat of Davina McCall's Long Lost Family, followed by an episode of Beat The Chasers: Celebrity Special, which originally aired in 2021. An ITV spokesperson confirmed the scheduling change, saying: "The full box set of The Neighbourhood is now available to stream on ITVX.

"Additionally, the show will continue to air in an evening slot on ITV." However, sources have suggested that despite the broadcaster leaving no stone unturned in its bid to turn the programme into a ratings winner, it has ultimately fallen flat. An insider told The Sun: "They threw everything at The Neighbourhood to make it a big success, but it's ended up a bit of a damp squib."

The six competing households are The Bradons, The Kandolas and Samra, The Lozman-Sturrocks, The Pescuds, The Scouse Haus and The Uni Boys. A series of challenges push every contestant to their absolute limits as they attempt to eliminate one another while avoiding becoming unpopular enough to face the chop themselves, reports the Mirror.

Reflecting on his initial reaction upon seeing the full scale of the set, Graham said: "Arriving in Derbyshire and seeing the set, I'd seen pictures but I didn't quite understand the scale of it. It really is like being on a movie set, except it's 360 - everywhere you look, it's real.

"The art department did an extraordinary job of building up that town square where we do the removals, the pub, the cafe, the interiors of the houses. It really took my breath away!

"It made it even more exciting. I thought - this is serious! We're making a big show. Then add on top of that, what Derbyshire does when the drone goes up and we see the Neighbourhood and the nature and the rest of it, it's so beautiful, those big driving shots. It's just gorgeous." BAFTA award-winning broadcaster Graham went on to say: "One of the loveliest things about the show is seeing households who would never meet in real life, not only meeting but forming proper bonds of friendship. There are a few moments in the show that really do bring a tear to my eye because it's just so genuine, so lovely and properly heartwarming.

"It's such an odd word to describe a show like this but it's properly wholesome. There's something about the bright colours, being out in the countryside and the genuine bonds that you see created."