'The Circle' Ratings: Only 1 Million Tuned In For Launch, Despite Huge 'Bake Off' Lead-In

Over 4 million people decided not to stick around.

Channel 4′s new reality show ‘The Circle’ got off to a less than impressive start in the ratings on Tuesday night, despite a huge lead in from ‘The Great British Bake Off’.

It has been revealed an average of just 1 million people tuned in to the debut episode, which aired from 9.15pm.

The figure came despite 5.5m tuning into ‘Bake Off’, which aired in the slot directly before.

'The Circle' contestants
'The Circle' contestants
Channel 4

‘The Circle’ had also been heavily promoted by Channel 4 in the lead-up to launch, while some had tipped it to be the next big reality format.

With three weeks left of its run, it still has the chance to improve and grow its audience in the coming days.

However, that being said, it certainly left viewers divided, many of whom took to social media to say they didn’t understand the point of the show.

Hosts Alice Levine and Maya Jama
Hosts Alice Levine and Maya Jama
Channel 4

It sees eight contestants living in the same apartment block, but they are only able to meet each other via an app and communicate over the internet.

The aim of the game is to be the most popular contestant, and not get “blocked”, with players even allowed to catfish one another in order to win the £50,000 prize.

The opening episode saw the contestants introduced to viewers, with one man opting to catfish the others by using his girlfriend’s profile picture, and a gay man deciding to hide his sexuality.

‘The Circle’ continues tonight at 10pm on Channel 4.

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