ITV has reportedly “cancelled” Ninja Warrior UK after five series. The popular series followed contestants who faced a gruelling obstacle course with hair-raising jumps, near-impossible climbs, and the final challenge of running up an almost vertical ramp.
Ninja Warrior UK, hosted by Ben Shephard, Chris Kamara and Rochelle Humes, is believed to have been axed from next year’s entertainment schedule amid claims a BBC rival show delivered a ratings blow.
It comes as Gladiators will return to the BBC for a second series early next year and will include a celebrity special.
The nineties revival show has been a hit with viewers pulling in over six million viewers compared to Ninja Warrior UK’s 1.6 million during their last series in 2022.
“For years, Ninja Warrior was one of ITV’s biggest shows and scooped up all those families who missed Gladiators,’ a source told The Sun.
“Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes, and Kammy made the series a big success.
“But when the BBC revived Gladiators last year, it sounded the death knell for ITV’s ninjas. It was an absolute ratings champion, pulling in over six million viewers versus 1.6 million for Ninja Warrior’s last series in 2022.”
Express Online has contacted ITV representatives for comment.
Ninja Warrior’s first series finale in May 2015 drew in 4.08 million viewers, with its best performance in February 2017 at 4.18 million.
A second series of Gladiators, the new format, is set to return to the BBC early next year. A celebrity special is also lined up.
The one-hour celebrity special is set to air on BBC One in early 2025 and initially left fans guessing as to who they could see try their luck against the Gladiators.
After weeks of fan speculation in August, broadcaster Louise Minchin, TV presenter Joel Dommett, comedian Rob Beckett and actress Ellie Taylor were all announced to appear in the Celebrity Gladiators special.
The four famous faces were set to take on the “superhuman” Gladiators in a series of gruelling challenges.