BBC2 ratings tumble after show pulled

The BBC's decision to pull the reality comedy show The Sack Race appears to have backfired.

Last week the show, in which unknown comics and actors were sent to play havoc in various workplaces in an attempt to get fired, debuted with 2million viewers to BBC2.

It was supposed to be the first in eight episodes, but executives had second thoughts, and yanked the remaining shows from the schedules.

But its replacement, a re-run of Coupling (pictured), performed even worse in the ratings ­ gathering just 1.7million viewers in the 9.30pm slot - down 15 per cent on The Sack Race.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks, in the preceding slot, also performed slightly weaker this week, with the unofficial overnight figures showing 2.3million viewers, down from last week's 2.5million.

The remaining episodes of The Sack Race are expected to be rescheduled later in the year.

Published: 20 Jan 2004