The Real Love Boat is sinking, which may be bad news for Love Island
Channel 10’s new The Real Love Boat is sinking after just two episodes, which could sound a warning to dating shows like Love Island.
Fiona Byrne
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Dubbed ‘The Bogan Titanic’ waterlogged reality series The Real Love Boat has hit an iceberg after just two episodes.
The show, which sees singles set loose on a cruise liner to hook up, break up and make up, drew just 215,000 overnight metro viewers for its premiere on Wednesday and sunk to a dismal 174,000 overnight metro viewers for Channel 10 on Thursday.
While the numbers are awful, host Darren McMullen remains upbeat, even embracing the Bogan Titanic phrase as the show was labelled by one Twitter wit.
“I love the Bogan Titanic. I might start using that, I think that is brilliant,” he said.
“I wish I had thought of it, to be honest.”
The soggy set of viewing numbers could well see Ed Kavalee revealed as having the power to predict the future.
When asked on a recent episode of Have You Been Paying Attention what show a particular ad was promoting Kavalee gleefully replied: “Premiering right here on the Ten Network and soon to be moved to a later timeslot, it is The Real Love Boat.”
A timeslot move would not surprise.
While the show has been criticised for a lack of action, McMullen said there were fireworks coming.
“I just hope people tune in and watch and catch up because when this hits five, six, seven, those episodes, it really hits its stride.
“The show really takes off for me when I start doing the Captain’s Table.
“I think because I came off the back of Celebrity Apprentice I was bringing that Lord Sugar energy. I was really going after these guys and making sure they were there for the right reasons and not just to be Insta-famous.”
The poor reception for The Real Love Boat must be of concern to network rival Channel 9. Nine is soon to launch the new series of Love Island Australia which is aimed at a similar audience and demographic as The Real Love Boat. Both will rely heavily on catch up and on demand viewers.
Meanwhile, Ten confirmed at its Upfront presentation on Thursday that it was planning a second season of The Real Love Boat in 2023.
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