Popstar to Operastar to be axed?

A tabloid reports claims Popstar to Operastar may be axed (again) because of low ratings.

The second series of the ITV series launched a month ago with an impressive 6.3 million viewers but crucially the first edition went out in a Saturday evening slot. Subsequent episodes have aired on Sunday evenings and ratings have plummeted with fewer than 3 million viewers watching the latest episode. The Mirror claims that the big decline in ratings has prompted ITV bosses to consider axing the series.

“Things have gone rapidly downhill… it may be that the end of this series becomes a natural end for the format.” – A “source” quoted in The Mirror

A spokesperson for ITV denied any decisions had been taken over the future of the singing competition. The current series is fronted by Myleen Klass with contestants including Joe McElderry, Cheryl Baker, Andy Bell and Claire Richards. Katherine Jenkins is one of the judges for the series.

If it is axed it won’t be the first time Popstar to Operastar has been culled by ITV. The first series aired last year on ITV1 in a Friday evening slot but failed to take off with viewers. Celebrity contestants that time around included Bernie Nolan, Kym Marsh and Darius Campbell who won the series. Following its poor performance ITV axed it but revived it several months later when, in light of other failures afterwards in the same slot, it proved to be a moderate hit.