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Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth

Updated: Channel Nine has axed Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth conceding "it has not found the audience we had hoped for."

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EXCLUSIVE: Channel Nine has axed Ben Elton Life from Planet Earth after just three episodes.

A fourth show will not go to air next week.

The live comedy show started out with just 455,000 viewers but dropped to 384,000 last week. Last night a delayed show airing at the later time of 10:40pm against coverage of the NZ earthquake managed 189,000.

It follows disappointing reviews for the show which was one of the network’s bold moves and part of its re-branding as “The Home of Comedy.”

Elton, whose previous achievements include writing Blackadder and The Young Ones, had stressed the show needed time to develop.

Addressing criticism the show was ‘too smutty’ he recently told TV Tonight, “You get no previews, you get no second shots and I think for a first show we did bloody well and if we were a bit rude then fair enough, ok, I’m sorry.”

Nine Entertainment Co. CEO David Gyngell recently said of the Elton show, “We continue to support local and international comedy, and it’s always better to chance you arm and have a go than to take the safe way out and do nothing.”

The show was produced by FremantleMedia Australia.

UPDATED: A Nine spokesperson said: “Ben and his team have done a fantastic job uncovering new Australian talent and we appreciate all of their hard work and dedication. We are all very proud of the show but unfortunately it has not found the audience we had hoped for. We thank Ben and all the cast and crew for their commitment and wish them all the best.”

Michael Healy, Director of Television said: “Comedy is always risky, and live comedy is the riskiest of all. We are pleased to have taken the chance to support the local industry.”

Ian Hogg, CEO of FremantleMedia Australia, said: “We have immense respect for Ben. Through our development deal, we look forward to some exciting comedy and drama projects in the future.”

112 Responses

  7. Perhaps let a show like Ben Elton build an audience on GO! like some other shows have? Be a great suit to that channel – question obviously is whether they are willing to spend that sort of money on a multi-channel show…

  14. It’s time for Ch 9 to raise their white flag early & admit that they’re nowhere near ‘the home of comedy laughter’!!.

    It’s time for Ch 9 to dump all their poor excuses of comedy shows, screen something more decent like CSI NY & Miami or Survivor!!

  17. not suprised just the stupid name was enough to put you off watching it not to mention it was also a awfull show i wonder if hamish and andy will make it past their third birthday if they go ahead

    @effie hey hey over 800k on 9:30 tuesday night i dont think so

  20. I came across the last few sketches of this last night – even the live audience didn’t know when to laugh. The ‘dad’s taxi’ skit, the lozenge song… WTF?!?

  21. Unfortunate that no one at 9 management stood up for Ben and the show during the last 3 weeks. Just letting him take the heat on his own was a low act. Do they not realise they are the ones who commissioned the show therefore it’s their own fault. Then to kill it last night by pushing it back to 10:40 is an even lower act. Hamish and Andy better watch their backs. The knife that was used on Molloy and Micallef, now Ben is being cleaned and sharpened as we speak.

  22. Ok how many bad puns can I fit into 1 post….

    The Sun Goes down on Elton

    Elton’s Lonely Planet

    The end of the Yellow Brick Road for Elton

    Shame in some respects, guess Daryl will be back in the 2nd half of the year now?

  24. Yea! Now use the money spent on LFPE to bring back Hey Hey its Saturday which should never have been cancelled. Better comedy and Better rating. Its now time channel 9 to listen to the public.

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