ITV's newest game show, Nobody's Fool, has made a strong first impression, with viewers declaring it '10 times better' than The Neighbourhood, which struggled to maintain an audience. Hosted by Graham Norton, The Neighbourhood featured real households competing for a £250,000 prize but was pulled from its primetime slot due to declining ratings.
A Fresh Concept with Star Power
Fronted by Emily Atack and Danny Dyer, Nobody's Fool is tipped to become the next Traitors. The quiz show capitalizes on the success of the saucy drama series Rivals, in which Atack plays Sarah Stratton and Dyer plays Freddie Jones. The synopsis teases: 'It's not about how smart you are, but how smart your rivals think you are. Expect lying, scheming, and a whole lot of quizzing.'
Format and Premiere
Ten contestants stay in a 'unique and mischievous Smart House' that tests intelligence. In a game of strategy, players must eliminate the worst performer among them, or risk losing half the prize pot. Nobody's Fool first aired after the final Britain's Got Talent semi-final in the 9pm slot. It will air on Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm on ITV1, with episodes available on ITVX.
Viewer Reactions
The game show market is saturated, but Nobody's Fool got off to a strong start. On X, @roaringleo89 called it 'addicting,' adding, 'Great new reality competition show! I'm hooked!' @JuFitJuJu praised the 'twists,' while @JulieMc14795436 predicted, 'I'm going to really like this.' @KingOfSunshine said, 'I will be watching again,' and @SocialMediaJon1 already 'can't wait' for more. @TMSdrawings wrote, 'Oh I am ENJOYING this… Much more than Neighborhood…' @gillyn4 added, 'It's a bit Traitors/Generation Game/The Chase…and I'm here for it!' However, some were less impressed: @ryxtilley accused the format of 'ripping off' The Traitors, and @JeffDGraves called it 'not original.'
Ratings and Challenges
Launching during a UK heatwave likely hurt Nobody's Fool's campaign, as ratings were lacklustre. Episode 1 garnered 875k viewers, half a million down on The Neighbourhood and Genius Game, hosted by David Tennant, which was cancelled after one season. @KingOfSunshine tweeted: 'Episode 1 Hottest day of the year combined with Saturday night launch doesn't give the full picture. Give it a chance to bed in. Certainly a much more enjoyable watch compared to other shows launched recently.'
ITV's Track Record
Over the past few years, ITV has aired several reality shows and quizzes, but not all have succeeded like The 1% Club or Love Island. Stephen Mangan's The Fortune Hotel has not been renewed for a third season, Sir Stephen Fry's Jeopardy! UK will not return, and Pictionary, presented by Mel Giedroyc, was cancelled after one season. Reality shows like Celebrity Sabotage and Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters also failed to attract audiences.
Future Prospects
Whether Nobody's Fool can restore faith in ITV remains to be seen, but it benefits from a link to the next season of Rivals, which launched last week. The ensemble cast includes Alex Hassell, Katherine Parkinson, and Aidan Turner. Season 1 was a huge success for Disney+, becoming the 10th most-streamed series in the US in October 2024. A second season has been greenlit.
Nobody's Fool airs Sunday and Monday at 9pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
