Channel 7’s new show ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’ drops after premiere

Channel 7’s attempt at prime time glory with its new “radical” reality show has fallen flat, with viewers switching off en masse after the debut.

It appears the cycle of new Australian reality shows failing to resonate with viewers is continuing.

Channel 7’s “radical” series Stranded on Honeymoon Island, which is narrated by radio queen Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, finally made it to screens Monday night.

It had mega competition, going up against the finale of Nine’s behemoth Lego Masters Australia, the latter of which pulled an average of 850,000 viewers nationally.

Still, Stranded managed to lure an average of 539,000 viewers for its debut, placing it third in the prime time slot behind Lego Masters and Ten’s MasterChef.

Jackie O narrates Seven’s ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’. Picture: Instagram

Hamish Blake’s ‘Lego Masters’ won the prime time slot on Monday. Picture: NIGEL WRIGHT

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But things dropped drastically come Tuesday night, with the reality show drawing an average of just 376,000 viewers, while Nine’s newly-launched Australia’s Most Identical pulled in an average of 731,000.

Seven bosses are no doubt hitting the drawing board to find a new prime time contender, with Stranded very likely on the chopping block before it’s even finished airing its first season.

After a lengthy delay – the show was first announced at Seven’s Upfronts in October 2023, while a trailer dropped in May 2024 – Stranded finally made it to air Monday.

The premise follows 12 wannabe participants who’re paired together following a round of rapid speed dates, later exchanging vows with the person producers felt they had the most chemistry with during the two-minute dates.

Stranded on Honeymoon Island debuted Monday night.

But come Tuesday night, many viewers switched off.

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The newlyweds are then shipped to a remote island, forced to dive into the ocean in their bride and groom outfits and swim to shore, where they embark on their ‘honeymoon’ in the great outdoors with no phones, no changes of clothing and no creature comforts.

Negative viewer reaction was swift.

“Same s***. Different show,” one wrote.

“This island show is crap,” another deadpanned.

“Cheap version of MAFS,” a third pointed out.

“Watched 20 mins of this crap even the Mrs didn’t like it and that’s saying something,” a fourth said.

“OMG is there nothing else that can be aired on prime time TV.”

Originally published as Channel 7’s new show ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’ drops after premiere