Making It Australia fails to beat SAS Australia in ratings war

Ten’s cheerful show about crafting has failed to beat SAS Australia in the ratings war, as Seven’s reality show strengthens its grip.

While social media was full of positivity for the latest reality show to join the war, Ten’s Making it Australia failed to light up the ratings.

It drew 474,000 viewers in capital cities (651,000 nationally), as Seven’s SAS Australia continued to grow its audience with its highest numbers so far in this second season with 654,000 tuning in the metro market (966,000 nationally).

Neither were able to chip away at The Block’s lead which saw an average of 810,000 viewers in capital cities (1.128 million nationally).

However, Ten will take heart in the overwhelming good vibes on social media for the Australian version of the popular Us Making It developed by Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler on social media.

While there wasn’t a lot of love in the ratings, those who did tune in raved about Making It Australia hosts Harley Breen and Susie Youssef. Picture: Ten.

“Making It Australia just perfect From the hosts to contestants to judges, concept to creativity. Finally one good reality show that the entire family can enjoy” one viewer tweeted.

Another wrote: “TBH I’d be happy with 90 minutes of Harley and Susie just chatting and hanging around. Especially with Russell” in reference to the show’s comedian hosts comedians Harley Breen and Susie Youssef.

While another, with a backhand to the failed Bachelor series which saw Jimmy Nicholson give his final rose to Holly Kingston, said: “Listen I probably won’t tweet much of this show but #makingitau is already much more interesting, and progressive, than the entire last season of The Bachelor.”

Before adding “Never mind I will tweet this show because it is already lifting my mental health out of the dirt and cuddling my soul.”

Meanwhile, two more star recruits quit the harrowing SAS Australia and a cheating incident means the remaining contestants are expecting a “beasting” when the reality show returns next week.

Isabelle Cornish heads into the Death by Drowning challenge. Picture: Seven

The recruits faced a “Death by Drowning” task – strapped into a car and submerged under water, they had to hold steady for 40 seconds before making their escape and swimming to shore.

Overcome by fear, celebrity chef Manu Feildel handed in his number before attempting the task, becoming the third recruit to leave the course.

I don’t like the word regret as such, but yeah, in a sense I wish I could have got my head in the game mentally,” said Feildel.

“But do I need to prove anything to myself to move forward in life? The answer is no. I’ve got a f*****g good life and I want it back,” he added.

Manu Feildel looks worried ahead of his VW from SAS Australia. Picture: Seven

A panic-stricken Bonnie Anderson was also on the verge of quitting, but managed to complete the terrifying exercise, while the task brought up traumatic memories for athlete Jessica Peris who was later brought in for questioning by the DS.

Peris revealed it had been tough growing up in her mother’s (Olympian Nova Peris) shadow and that her mental health suffered after testing positive to a banned substance, forcing her withdrawal from the 2018 Commonwealth Games trials.

“That was absolutely heartbreaking,” said Peris, who continues to fight for justice today, before making the devastating admission she’d attempted to take her own life.

“I felt as if I had no way out, I didn’t want to be here anymore. It’s definitely one of my biggest regrets in life, because what if I didn’t wake up. My son wouldn’t have a mother, my mother wouldn’t have a daughter, but that’s what it pushed me to.”

Jessica Peris shared she had contemplated suicide after she tested positive to a banned substance at 2018 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Supplied

As the recruits started out on a combat fitness test, Emma Husar became the fourth person to VW, when the pain from a previous calf injury became too much to bear.

The gruelling series of exercises were actually a test of integrity, with hidden cameras watching the recruits’ every move.

He’s still there … Pete Murray’s been notably absent for much of the edit of SAS Australia Season 2. Picture; Seven

Koby Abberton was caught out cutting corners, doing 15 press ups instead of the instructed 30. After failing to own up, he was hauled over the coals by the DS.

“I feel pretty bad about this whole situation,” a defiant Koby told his fellow recruits, who were now all on high alert awaiting a beasting. “I just f*cked up, I counted wrong.”

Some viewers sided with the Bra Boy, one tweeting: “Honestly though it’s not a stretch to think Koby Can’t count to 30.”

While others slammed his cheating. “There’s people who worried they did 29 instead of 30 accidentally and then there’s this cheat looking them in the eye and lying blatantly.”

Eagled eyed viewers also noted the lack of footage of singer Pete Murray, questioning whether he was even still there? “He’s already mastered camouflage” a viewer jokingly responded.

Originally published as Making It Australia fails to beat SAS Australia in ratings war