Channel 4 Axes 'The Circle'

[Roger Darthwell]

I am gutted by this. I would imagine it likely that Netflix would pick up the UK version, it's a British production team after all, filmed in the UK, so spending a little more to film another series without the expense of flying contestants over may seem like an advantage to Netflix.

The only thing I'd find if it moved, would be the feeling it had being shown at a set time and seeing Twitter react to it in real time, something that isn't the same with the US version.

But a possible positive side for Channel 4 is that they're going out on a high, Series 3 having the biggest ratings.

Well it would make Netflix have an excuse to launch Direct over here.

I know they tested it in France last year, but I have no idea if it still exists?

[sjames]

Very disappointed by this decision. I don't understand it when a TV show grows in ratings and then the channel bins it to make way for 'new shows'. Why not try and continue to grow the ones you have and give them a chance before dumping them. As others have said I think the timeslot maybe didn't help the latest series, and the fact that it was all pre-recorded too, whereas the first two had more buzz about them being live.

Hoping if not Netflix, ITV2 or maybe even BBC3 when it relaunches could give it a home. I would say Channel 5, but they'd treat it even worse, dump it in the middle of the run and bring it back later in the year under a different title!

[Steve in Pudsey]

I think running the celebrity series back to back with Series 3 was a mistake. I know it was intended as a curtain raiser but I think a bit of a break between the two might have helped, I was a bit "circled out"

[Brekkie]

I think perhaps both series being on the shelf for about six months said alot about C4's faith in it too.

I do think sjames makes a good point though about growing existing shows rather than wiping the slate clean and starting again. The trouble is when that growth is slow and from a low base, as it has been with The Circle.

If "new ideas" genuinely meant new landmark programmes which they tried to push into being higher rating shows that defined the channel I think the axe is probably justified, but I suspect just like when Big Brother was axed the "new ideas" are basically filling the slot as cheaply as possible and breaking even at best means it is all rather uninspired.

[XIII]

I'm not sure why the timeslot is being blamed, the series has gone out at 10pm since its inception apart from a handful of episodes.

[tellyblues]

Not surprised by this. The actual game was more exciting for the contestants than the audience. Also, I think when those who criticise a show after the very first episode for being boring are told that it is a social experiment then it zaps any entertainment value that may be had.

[Brekkie]

I do think the UK version had lost what it was supposed to be about with the recent celeb and civilian series and focused too much on the catfish element rather than people connecting to each other without meeting. The US felt stronger and although still had the catfish element over half the cast were playing as themselves.

As fans too we were quite critical of it for not trusting the core format enough and throwing in twists for too many of the eliminations which removes alot of the trust viewers need to have in such a format being fair, especially as it was still a fledgling show viewers need to get to know.


That said though I think the justification C4 have used is rather weak - there are formats on the channel which are much more tired and not rating much better than The Circle. As great as The Last Leg and Cats Does Countdown have been for them I'm not sure they need anymore - whilst Taskmaster isn't really firing on C4 either, but IMO does suffer from the lack of an audience.

[DavidWhitfield]

I do think the UK version had lost what it was supposed to be about with the recent celeb and civilian series and focused too much on the catfish element rather than people connecting to each other without meeting. The US felt stronger and although still had the catfish element over half the cast were playing as themselves.

You could have a point about there being too large a focus on catfishing. If you look at the final seven players in the most recent series, of Dorothy, Alice, Tom, Syed, Felix, Andy, and Manrika, only the latter two were 'real', with the others being catfish - one of whom (Tom) was actually two players (a former catfish and a former 'real-life' player acting as one entity). More catfish does not necessarily make for a more exciting viewing experience.

In the same vein, I'd agree that more shock twists do not necessarily make for a more exciting viewing experience either. In the most recent series, you had a player getting cloned, seemingly blocked players returning as new 'characters', Gemma's secret mission... when you're familiar with a format and every so often, they reveal something new and exciting, it can be very engaging, but when you're seeing these 'surprise' events every other programme, you just come to expect the twists which are meant to shock you and it can be more irritating than exciting.

I would say, however, that if there's one thing The Circle does incredibly well, it's cliff hangers. Every single time, they know exactly how to end an episode to make you howl 'no, you can't end it THERE!'

[Josh]

The Netflix version of the show feels very slow and dragged out when compared to its linear TV counterpart due to there being no adverts. Whilst this does make the show slightly less bearable to watch, I would definitely watch the UK version if it were to be on the platform.

Similarly to [mention]DavidWhitfield[/mention]'s points, one thing that makes the show great is Sophie Willan's voiceover and comedic timing - a work of art. If Netflix decide to pick up the show, Sophie has to... no, must stay on.

[DavidWhitfield]

If Netflix decide to pick up the show, Sophie has to... no, must stay on.

It wouldn't be The Circle without it beginning with a booming 'preeeviouslehh!'

[Brekkie]

Yes, keeping Sophie is a must. No need to keep Emma though - always thought it was a mistake replacing two up and coming talents (though it didn't need them) with someone from an axed rival format. I do like the US host as well though.

[Jon]

It’s a great format once you get into it and I think I prefer it to Big Brother. Perhaps there isn’t enough of the target audience left watching linear TV left for it capture though.

I’m not sure Netflix would want/need both a ‘UK’ and ‘US’ version when they can just stream the US version to UK viewers

That seems a bit of a silly thing to say, UK viewers might not be as interested with Americans paying the game.

I guess it’s possible Netflix could just do an international version of the show with English speakers. Although not really a fan of that idea myself.

I also think the approach they’ve done the US version of releasing 4 episodes weekly is a bit odd. Surely people will have lost interest the cliff hanger once the week is up and be less likely to watch. Would make more sense to release it all in one go or just release a new episode nightly.

[Brekkie]

The cliffhangers were done well enough on the US version to keep the interest - they generally didn't leave you hanging over who was blocked but used it to tease some kind of twist. I personally think both US series are pretty decent - the fact they're clearly produced by the UK team in the style of the UK show helps considerably, and the casts aren't your usual typical American reality show casts.

[Mouseboy33]

I think its sad that Ch4 cancelled The Circle. But I think they shouldnt have dont a celeb version in my opinion. Started to water everything down and yeah I agree they started to do too many twists. And as the catfishing goes, Vithun was interviewed by Rob Has Podcast and he said that he wanted to go in as a catfish and the producers are really proactive in convincing players to either play themselves or choose to be a catfish. SO they kinda shot themselves in the foot that the level. And yes Netflix has the US version. But keep in mind Netflix also did a French version and a Brazilian version and US. So thats 3 versions already. There is no word on if they will bring back the French or Brazilian versions. But creating a separate UK version is unlikely. They did throw Chloe into the US version, so you might see International hybrid English language version, the problem with that is regional text speak and such might cause issues to play the game on some level. Interesting the UK and US version the players play the game differently. WIth the exception of Manreeka and a few others they really looked down on those players they perceived to be "playing the game", whereas the US players were in the game to play the game and strategy wasnt frowned on like it is in the UK version . Remains to be seen. But its sad to see the UK version get axed.

[Steve in Pudsey]

I think the other point here is whether it's viable to only make the Netflix version going forward. That's a pretty expensive "standing set" that likely needs to be a conveyor belt of different versions of the show to be cost effective.