Comedy loses its prime BBC1 slot

BBC1 has jettisoned the new sitcom Trevor's World of Sport from its prime-time slot after audiences slumped.

The show, about a sports agent played by Neil Pearson, attracted only 2.8 million viewers in the 9.30pm slot.

When the show, written by Drop the Dead Donkey's Andy Hamilton, debuted three weeks ago, 3.2million tuned in - but the slump has alarmed the schedulers.

It will now be moved to the less competitive time of 10.35pm on Mondays from September 15 - coinciding with the end of The Comedy Zone on BBC2.

A BBC spokeswoman told The Guardian: "The show has not really found its audience on a Friday night. Hopefully it will be able to do that in the new slot."

Trevor's World of Sport was one of a triple bill of comedy alongside Ardal O'Hanlon's My Hero at 8.30pm and Paul O'Grady's Eyes Down at 9pm.

The bingo hall comedy has also had disappointing ratings, but it remains in the line-up. However it is being shifted half an hour later, with a repeat of Only Fools and Horses being parachuted into the 9pm slot.

BBC bosses will be hoping that running such a ratings banker will help Eyes Down inherit a bigger audience.

Published: 6 Sep 2003