Channel 4 axes The Honesty Box after one series
Channel 4 has scrapped The Honesty Box after one series because it did not perform as well as the broadcaster's fellow experimental reality TV show, Virgin Island.
Channel 4 has axed The Honesty Box after one series because it did not perform as well as Virgin Island.
Hosted by Vicky Pattison, The Honesty Box saw singletons travel to a luxurious resort in Cyprus called Truetopia, and the contestants had to stay truthful about their feelings to win a potential jackpot of £100,000, as fibs reduced the amount.
It was pitted against fellow E4 experimental show, Virgin Island - which raked in a series average of 1.4 million viewers per episode to see some of the world’s top sexologists help the 12 virgins in a plush Mediterranean retreat take their first steps towards sex and intimacy.
The latter - Channel 4's biggest streaming hit so far this year - has been recommissioned for a second series, but The Honesty Box has not, despite the broadcaster being impressed with Vicky's performance as its presenter.
A Channel 4 spokeswoman told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "The Honesty Box was a brilliant format from a great team, but there were many great new reality hits this year.
"We have had to make tough decisions on what is returning. Virgin Island really landed with our audience, and it will return next year."
As Channel 4 bosses were thrilled with Vicky's work on The Honesty Box - which aired in April - they have given her a co-hosting role on the network's Stand Up to Cancer fundraiser on December 12.
The star - who was recently eliminated from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing - will join The Last Leg presenter Adam Hills, 55, TV host Davina McCall, 58, and author Hannah Fry, 41, on the night.
Vicky, 38, said: "I've supported cancer-related causes for many years, taking part in fundraising treks and awareness campaigns for breast cancer, and it means a great deal to continue championing such work."
Series two of Virgin Island will be "bigger and bolder than ever".
Jonah Weston, Virgin Island Commissioning Editor, said: “It's been such a thrill to watch this show catch fire.
"This is a live issue among young people, and from the brave cast to our wonderful experts I don't think I've ever worked on anything quite so bold, warm and well-intentioned.
"Watch out for season two, which will be bigger and bolder than ever!”
