Survivor: Your views

Should ITV go on to make Survivor 2?

Survivor ended with one of its best rating figures as viewers tuned in to see who had won the million-pound jackpot.

But it was still a long way short of the expectations the show began with, billed as a primetime ITV programme.

"A confusing mix of traditional reality TV elements and games straight out of It's a Knockout, Survivor did not prove an attractive package for viewers who could not care less who would walk away with the million-pound prize," wrote BBC News Online's Darren Waters.

BBC News Online's Patrick Heery disagreed.

"I honestly can't believe Survivor was not more of a hit with the viewing public. It had every vital ingredient for my evening - backstabbing, bitchiness and bikinis.

"No sitting around on sofas reading books or being pampered in a hot tub."

But what did you think?

Was the show just one big turkey? Or did it grow on you? Does Big Brother still reign supreme?

Survivor was a lot more memorable than both of the Beeb's efforts - that one on some island off Scotland, and the one in a mud hut in Wales. I mean, what were they about?
Nozza, Wales

I would just like to say that I was totally glued to the programme. I stayed in every week just to see it. I really enjoyed it. It's about time something decent was on telly. And well done to Charlotte. I cried when she won the money, I was so happy for her.
Davina Phillips, Wales

I thought that Survivor was excellent but you had to watch it from the beginning to see the relationships and personalities develop. I think what was confusing at the beginning was the timing of the episodes. Overall I thought it was a success.

Also Big Brother is good but again that is down to the developing relationships and personalities in the house. So the recipe is the same, it's just the location that is different.
Corrine Hayward, England

I thought Survivor was brilliant TV. I cheered out loud when JJ, Zoe and Eve were evicted. In the case of the Cocky Zoe and Evil Eve, this was accompanied by the air punching and repeated gasps of 'yes' usually reserved for when my beloved West Brom score a goal against arch rivals Wolves.

The social experiment was fascinating. The group loyalty and rivalry generated by being in separate tribes for just a few days was amazing.

The ultimate triumph of Charlotte from her seemingly hopeless situation was an inspiration. The message came through clear that everyone can be a winner, not just the strongest or most intelligent. The main thing is to put in the effort, make the most of what you have and, as with all things in life, hope for a bit a luck. Roll on Survivor 2.
KP, UK

it was an interesting observation about what harsh conditions and money can do to good people

AR, UK

The show has nothing to do with true survival in the wild.
Kent Cravens, USA

Contrary to the more common view, I felt the show was quite interesting. In my opinion much better than Big Brother whose novelty factor has worn out. I am not sure if I will find a second series of Survivor as interesting either.

To me, the most interesting part was changes in human behaviour in the face of adversity and the potential of winning a huge sum of money. While I did not feel pleased about all the back-stabbing and lack of dignity portrayed by most contestants (not all!), it was an interesting observation about what harsh conditions and money can do to good people.
AR, UK

The programme grew on me but was not as down-to-earth as Big Bruv. It proves that decent shows should be left to other channels who can produce them properly.

The reason it wasn't a hit is because it's harder to "survive" in real life, they had it easy and it all seemed so fake. Big Brother on the other hand doesn't pretend to be something it's not. This was just like Cyrstal Maze, but on a beach.
Niki Cox, UK

I enjoyed Survivor. It had all the scheming and machinations lacking in Big Brother. I think it was probably too much to take in for the great Sun-reading public, but it was certainly a hit among the more discerning viewers that I know. I'd look forward to series 2.
LB, UK

This is far and away a superior programme to Big Brother

James Reynolds

Given that detectives are (incorrectly) supposed to be the "elite" of the police here in the UK, Charlotte doesn't exactly give one much confidence in the current state or integrity of the police service.
An ex-(British) police officer, UK

This is far and away a superior programme to Big Brother. There was more excitement from the scheming contestants for a start. Although I only joined the show half way through, I cannot believe that this show could not pull in more viewers. The challenges cannot be placed in the same ball park as It's a Knock-out, as they have been more about skill and endurance. Although I do not subscribe to most reality TV shows, this has been the best by far. Quite captivating!
James Reynolds, UK

Lets all remember that in the States, Big Brother flopped like a dead fish and Survivor was massive. I reckon that Survivor 2 would be a bigger hit as the public now understand what is going on, and will all think that they can do better.
Richard Manning, UK

Watched it a bit, found it mostly boring..... I don't know why they called it "Survivor" - a better title would have been "parasite". The format of the game appeared to be all wrong. Those who exhibited good survival skills got voted off very early, whilst those who were good at manipulation of their fellow contestants seemed to prosper.

Still, it was better than (actually less bad than) Big Brother.
John, UK

I was put off by the fact that it had been recorded some time ago

Gary Maltby, Ireland

What a load of rubbish this programme was. I watched 15 minutes of the first programme out of curiosity and decided that it was so awful that I didn't watch any more.

This is the level to which TV has sunk in this country - as the guy said, backstabbing, bitching and bikinis - awful, boring and nauseating. I'm sick of this kind of lowest-common-demoninator cheap-to-make 'reality' TV. Bring back some good honest drama, documentary and comedy - even the more ludicrous soaps are more watchable than this. I won't miss Survivor now it's gone.
Caroline, UK

Contrived nonsense. An objective account of Royal Marine training or the day to day efforts of inner-city school teachers would have been more inspiring and certainly more interesting.
Robert del Valle, USA

Complete bore! A waste of money and time. They didn't make enough of the contestants fighting between themselves - this would have at least been interesting.......and as for Charlotte the harlot - well, I couldn't believe it.
Jeff Jeffreys, UK

I was put off by the fact that it had been recorded some time ago - I could never work out how the interviews "back at the studio" fitted in with what was happening "back on the island". The scheming treachery of it all beat BB out of sight but there was something really distasteful about the million-pound finale... it was an almighty flop.
Gary Maltby, Ireland

It's a new human low, just under the Jerry Springer show and Howie Stern.
Clancy Clements, USA

I thought it was great. Much more backstabbing than Big Brother

Neil, UK

Survivor seems to highlight the worst aspects of human nature, not only among the contestants, but also in the couch potatoes that watch this type of "reality" TV.
Richard Tyszkiewicz, UK

What little I did see was a load of pants, overrated, overhyped rubbish.

Who cares who won, it was probably fixed to get as much revenue in as possible, i.e. pretty girl wins!
Richard Brammar, UK

This kind of TV show that encourages people to be conniving, malicious, two-faced and dishonest and then rewards the winner with £1m is absurd. Should we not encourage people to be honest and nice to one another instead?
Nigel Simpson, England

I don't watch these shows. I don't care about them. Seems a waste of time to me.
James, USA

I did find the later programmes far more interesting than the earlier ones, following the tribal merger, the contestants seemed to have fire in their bellies at this stage. The problems seemed to be that it wasn't live and lacked the total feeling of being alone and surviving due to the big production and constant intrusion of the camera crews. I will watch another series but again, not from the beginning.
Chris Fields, UK

I thought it was great. Much more backstabbing than Big Brother. The physical and mental games played were thrilling to watch at times. The 23-hour standing on a log marathon was unbelievable. I can't understand why people obviously seem to prefer the likes of Castaway or Big Brother. There was no acting up to the camera, just real drama.
Neil, England

I keep reading how the public didn't engage with the players. Well, I'm a member of the public and I certainly did! I watched the show from beginning to end and loved every minute of it. Roll on Survivor 2...
Andy Saunders, UK

I watched the final show and was amazed they managed to string it out for two hours!

Stephen McKinley, UK

It was great. TV at its best. Charlotte is a star. If only all of our coppers were like her.
Tony Bullock, England

I think it was a great programme. I know that most folk are sick of reality TV, but it wasn't just about that. Most people like Big Brother because it really doesn't involve using your brain, whereas with Survivor, the contestants had to be a lot more cunning, use their brains, which meant the public had to pay more attention. Big Brother is comedy, Survivor is intense. Can't wait for Survivor 2!
Nikki Ward, Scotland

These kinds of shows are full of rubbish. They obviously can't come up with anything smart, interesting and good. We do not even have to think anymore or use our brains. Soon our world will be just like in the movie "The Running Man" with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Christina, USA

Survivor (and Survivor 2) was a huge hit in the USA and Canada. It was on once a week (which was perfect) and was expertly edited. The way people behaved, lied, manipulated etc. was fascinating. I haven't seen the British one but I'm really curious to know why it failed.
Bren, Canada

I thought Survivor was a good idea when first hearing about it, although after watching it found it to be pants! I watched the final show and was amazed they managed to string it out for two hours! It's just a third rate attempt at gathering ratings which Big Brother gets and deserves.
Stephen McKinley, England

Is this really the best they could do with £9 million? Do people really stay in to watch backstabbing and bitching? Go out and get a life you sad people.
Adrian, England

I thought Survivor was addictive viewing

Sally, UK

I think that Survivor has had harsh reviews. Admittedly, it got off to a poor start but I persevered and soon looked forward to the weekly Monday episode. Towards the end, it was gripping stuff with all the backstabbing, friction and greed. My only criticism would be the two hour finale to discover the winner. This was really strung out and the corny stage set in the studio made the whole experience on the island like some cheap gameshow. They would have been better announcing the winner on the island. I look forward to the second series...
Sophie, UK

I thought Survivor was addictive viewing, especially when the two tribes merged and had to fight for immunity challenges. What first hooked me though was seeing JJ - an awful baggage of a woman shrieking orders to the rest of her tribe. I was desperate for the others to get rid of her!
Sally, UK

I watched the first US Survivor series in Canada last year and have now seen the UK one.

The two shows were near identical in format but very different in character. There was much more devious behaviour in the UK series and the alliances were much more fleeting and dynamic as the individual situations demanded.

Richard Hatch was a great manipulator from the start to finish of the American one, but he was never rumbled and out-witted like Zoe was. That moment alone was worth watching the whole series for.

I found the UK series much more watchable for the sheer diversity of characters, but I think the UK public are much more cynical than the US public when we're told they're supposed to be struggling to survive. I don't think we were fooled into believing the artificial reality to the same level as the American audience.
SR, UK

Can't wait for round 2 - might even send my husband!

June, UK

I thought watching Survivor was like watching an infinitely long edition of 'Its a Knockout'. Dull, uninvolving and completely lacking in the human interplay that makes Big Brother compulsive viewing. I'm not sure if the structure of the game prevented this or if it was just edited in the wrong way.
Sarah, UK

Survivor was brilliant although it took a bit of getting into. So much better than Big Brother which I loved last year, but this year, yawn. We were rooting for Charlotte after really disliking her at the start but she's definitely a grower. I think without her it might have been a bit boring. Jackie was great too (and she¿s got a lovely smile!) I know it wasn¿t really about surviving on a desert island but it was compelling viewing, unlike BB.
Charlie G, UK

Brill. Charlotte - I couldn't stand her at first, even towards the end. It was only when there were the two of them that I began to change my mind. I was on the edge of my seat at the end, I think if Jackie had won, the TV would have gone out the window. Can't wait for round 2 - might even send my husband!
June, UK

I missed the start but was interested as it continued. The final episode when Charlotte won spoiled it for me because she was carried forward by the others and did not win on merit
Eddie, UK

Having been glued to both American series whilst living in Australia, I initially felt disappointed at the English production. It failed to be a ratings winner because the programme takes time to develop, as alliances grow and backstabbing become more frequent, the excitement begins. Not much happens in the first few episodes, so after the huge pubilicity people found it boring and so switched off. Everyone I have made watch it has loved it more and more as the series progressed. It became an unmissable part of my week (sad, I know!) I was pleased for Charlotte to win, Jackie in all honesty didn't really desire it. As for Richard, he's a glory hunting Red, so I was delighted he never made the final.
Alex, England