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Dragon's Den star's show Tycoon axed from primetime slot
Updated 15:53pm on 27 Jun 2007Dragon's Den star Peter Jones's new TV show has been axed from its peak-time slot. ITV has decided to move Tycoon following terrible ratings.
The show was produced by Jones's specially created production company Peter Jones TV.
The multi-millionaire, 41, has invested £160,000 in the ITV1 business reality programme.
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Peter Jones's new TV show has been axed from its peak-time slot
Some critics dubbed Jones's peak-time TV offering Dragons' Den meets The Apprentice, and Jones as "Sir Alan Sugar Lite".
As well as shunting the show to the 10pm slot, ITV has also decided to reduce each one-hour episode to just half an hour.
The 9pm slot that has been home to Tycoon will initially be replaced with a one-hour drama, yet to be decided.
TV bosses had waited to see what happened with the second episode before making any rescheduling decisions.
Its debut was watched by two million viewers, while the second instalment last night attracted even fewer - 1.9 million.
Britain's Got Talent was seen by 6.8 million when it ran at the same time on ITV1 earlier this month.
An ITV spokesman confirmed: "Tycoon has been moved into a new slot.
"ITV1 has performed very strongly so far in 2007, with some of our best results for three years, and we have taken a commercial decision to protect that performance.
"Happily we have been able to return the series to a new slot."
Tycoon sees Jones, whose business portfolio is worth an estimated £200 million, invest time and money in six businesses.
On its first week, the show helped ITV1 get its worst all-hours performance for a Tuesday so far this year and its third-worst peak time performance of 2007.
But Jones has said in the past: "I don't believe in failure. I see it as feedback."
ITV boss Michael Grade recently said the broadcaster would stop copycat programming, branding it "creatively bankrupt".
Tycoon will return on Monday July 9, also moving from a Tuesday to a Monday.
Reader views (3)
I think they should admit the they failed to make a interesting tv show and just axe it before the viewing figures get any worse.
- Natasha, London, England, 03/07/2007 22:53
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Not the slightest surprised this show has been virtually sidelined. Name was wrong, surely Peter Jones is hardly a Tycoon? Production and editing has been appalling.
The business ideas and the prospective tycoons (what a joke that is) are so bad as to be ridiculous. The only reason they might get anywhere is because of Peter's connections. It is blatantly commercial to get viewers' money and sell Peter's book.
- David Mcgregor, Edinburgh, Scotland, 02/07/2007 22:47
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Considering the original number of applicants I was amazed at the selection of ideas - and I hasten to add - personally picked by Mr Jones, it must be a sad reflection on those rejected.
Think about it!
Yet another fancy intoxicating drink for young women when binge drinking is spread all across the papers.
A newspaper for schoolchildren, aw come on, haven't you heard about iPods; texting and the internet! Yep a real teen fashion statement.
Recycling plastic bags, shops of all sizes in the very near future will no longer issue plastic bags - say no more.
I would be very very surprised if a niche market like hair extensions even broke even let alone became a tycoons leading earner.
The helicopter business, even with an exclusive supply, I imagine an email to the Hong Kong Trade Commission could produce a dozen more suppliers.
(And why did I get the feeling from day one this was meant to be the winner?)
As for the ladies with the gardening product, why were they not left to their own devices and allowed to expand normally and not be pushed into running before they could walk?
I promised myself I’d say nothing about the snitching and spying in the “house” and the same goes for the “meet me on the Pier“ line.
- Gerryess, Derry, Ireland, 30/06/2007 15:19
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