Channel 4 has decided not to renew its controversial immigration reality show Go Back To Where You Came From after just one series amid backlash.
The four-part programme, which aired earlier this year, followed six Britons with differing views on one of Britain’s most contentious issues as they experienced the journeys made by asylum seekers.
Go Back To Where You Came From, adapted from a multi-award-winning Australian format, saw the participants immersed in the lengthy journeys migrants make to reach the UK – including the English Channel crossing.
They also visited high-risk locations of origin including Mogadishu in Somalia and Raqqa in Syria – described as two of the most dangerous cities on Earth.
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Despite stirring a great deal of debate, the show failed to inspire larger viewing figures.
Go Back Where You Came From’s debut audience of one million reportedly lost a third of its audience by the finale.
“Of course, Channel 4 will maintain they only made this as a stand alone show but the scope to continue the show with another batch of Brits was obvious,” a TV insider told The Sun.
“If the ratings were higher then it might well have had a sequel but it didn’t seem to capture the viewers imagination, even if some of the contestants’ views did inspire a fiery response,” they continued.
However, a Channel 4 spokeswoman explained: “Go Back to Where You Came From was commissioned as a single series of event television.
“We are immensely proud of what it achieved in creating national conversation about a hugely important issue.
“Any allusions to this programme being ‘cancelled’ are entirely false,” they concluded.
Despite the varying explanations for the show’s lack of renewal, Channel 4 faced complaints from viewers.
Taking to social media, some blasted the show for an alleged political bias.
One called the programme “communist propaganda” on X and vowed it did not change their opinion on immigration.
Another agreed, sniping: “Smells like propaganda to me.”
“Channel 4 attempting their left wing approach with #GoBackToWhereYouCameFrom by sending actors to war torn countries to pull on heartstrings good effort Channel 4,” a third slammed.
However, others praised the programme with one declaring: “Everyone, regardless of views on migration, should watch this. Not what I expected. Eye opening.”
“Ok this has changed my mind and something needs to change. families need safeguarding regardless,” another wrote on YouTube.