The Honesty Box: Channel 4 reality dating show axed by bosses after just one series - but Channel 4 confirm future of another show
A Channel 4 dating show has been axed by bosses after just one series on screens.
The Honesty Box will not return for a second series, Channel 4 bosses have confirmed. The show first hit screens earlier this year and saw hopeful singles travel to a tropical resort where they competed for a prize pot which is accumulated by answering questions truthfully.
The Honesty Box was hosted by former Geordie Shore and Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison, as well as ex-Married At First Sight Australia participant Lucinda Light. Lucinda would have had personal experience with the format, with a similar ‘honesty box’ of questions being a prominent feature in both the UK and Australian versions of MAFS.
The axing was first reported by The Sun, with a spokesperson for Channel 4 revealing to the newspaper that while The Honesty Box has been shelved, another Channel 4 show has made the cut for a second series.
They said: “Honesty Box was a brilliant format from a great team but there were many great new reality hits this year. We have had tough decisions on what is returning. Virgin Island really landed with our audience and will return next year.”
Virgin Island was released around the same time as The Honesty Box and saw 12 adult virgins travel to a Croatian island retreat where they were coached by sex and relationship experts in becoming more comfortable and confident with the act of sex. Contestants were not eliminated and there is no competition element to the show, which was welcomed by viewers who praised the “earnestness” of the series.
Channel 4 also revealed that the show was a hit in the ratings, especially with young audiences. Virgin Island earned the biggest share of young viewers for a new format on the channel since modern record began, and earned more than nine million streaming views.