Channel 5 forced to make major schedule change after new series tanks in the ratings
CHANNEL 5 has made huge changes to its schedule after a new series has struggled with low ratings.
The broadcaster has moved one of its new series, ‘Motorway Cops: Catching America’s Speeders’, to a later time in its schedule after it failed to perform.
The new series, which focuses on catching America’s speeders on the roads, will now air at 10pm from Monday 13 January instead of 9pm.
Channel 5 will air a repeat of ‘Petrol vs Electric Cars: Which Is Better?’ at 9pm instead.
Viewers have reacted to the news, after it was announced in a tweet by TV Zone, as one person replied: “Ah, typical Channel 5. Burning off shows at a later date when their ratings are low.”
Another shared: “Not many programmes on Channel 5 get big ratings, but looks like some viewers don’t like seeing American police at work.
“I watch the 8pm programme at 9pm on +1 channel.”
“All focus on streaming catch up and binge but low ratings on TV channels still matter.. so why the urge get everyone binging box sets and watching early episodes of everything?” questioned another.
The motorway and police documentary series follows New Jersey Police as they crack down on dangerous drivers, with dashcam footage from across America showing the devastation the nation’s worst drivers cause.
The first episode saw Clifton patrolman Nick Garutto called to an exploding minibus and attending a three-car crash on Route 21, one of the Garden State’s most dangerous roads.
The second episode, which will now air at a later time of 10pm on Monday 13, will see patrol officer Malek Badeer stopping a car with a dangerous DIY repair job.
The third episode, which will air on Monday 20 January, sees Sergeant Rob Marks hunt down a man with a gun, whilst a novice driver causes a three-car crash.
The series by Purple Production also has a Uk spin off series, titled ‘Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders’ which also airs on Channel 5.
The UK based series follows Northumbria Police as they patrol the roads in the North East of England.
Motorway Cops: Catching America’s Speeders continues on Monday 13 January at 10pm.
Top Channel 5 dramas
Channel 5 has become a hub for gripping drama, these are some of the best My5 has to offer.
- All Creatures Great and Small – Based on the best-selling novels by real-life vet Alf Wright, the show revolves around a trio of vets working in the Yorkshire Dales in the late 1930s. Eccentric Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) hires James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) for his veterinary practice at Skeldale House alongside himself and his younger brother Tristan (Callum Woodhouse). There James settles into his new life and even finds love with local farmer’s daughter Helen (Rachel Shenton).
- The Ex-Wife – New parents Tasha (Céline Buckens) and Jack (Tom Misson) seem to have the perfect life, but the constant presence of Jack’s overly friendly but suspicious ex-wife Jen (Janet Montgomery) puts pressure on the couple. But as the series progresses it becomes less clear who the bad guy really is and how far everyone will go to get the life they think they deserve.
- Heat – EastEnders alum Danny Dyer leads this four-part action thriller, set in Australia, which sees two families holidaying together during bushfire season. But instead of rest and relaxation, secrets and lies start to unravel — and not everyone will make it out alive…
- Lie With Me – Another soap legend jets off to Australia, this time its EastEnders alum Charlie Brooks who takes as a married woman trying to saving her marriage by moving halfway around the world after her husband had an affair. However it’s far from plain sailing, as a young and attractive live-in nanny comes to work with the Fallmont family, and tensions soon build and eventually, someone ends up dead.
- The Drowning – Jill Halfpenny plays Jodie, a woman whose life is shattered following the disappearance of her beloved four-year-old son, Daniel. However, ten years later, the grieving mother thinks she’s finally found her missing child, and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about him. But has she really just found the son she has been missing for so long?