Total Wipeout axed by BBC

Total Wipeout is to be been axed, according to the BBC, but fear not as the Wipeout franchise will return for just one more series.

The Saturday night show, hosted by Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond and Irish brunette Amanda Byram, has been a big success for the Corporation but according the the Mail online, a source said that while Wipeout still gets ‘reasonable’ ratings, bosses felt it had ‘served its purpose’ after six series.

There have been various spin-off versions of the BBC1 show, such as Winter Wipeout and Celebrity Wipeout.

The most recent series of Winter Wipeout averaged 3.85million viewers and the normal series from January to March last year pulled in an average of 4.8million.

Over the years, the show’s ratings have fluctuated from 5.6million in 2010 to below four million viewers.

Each week, 20 contestants compete in a series of gruelling challenges in an attempt to win £10,000.

These challenges are based in large pools of water or mud and are tasked with going through the Wipeout Zone, billed as the ‘toughest obstacle course in the world’ in the quickest time possible at the end of the show.

But the show has not been without controversy.

In 2009, two celebrities sought legal advice over injuries they had sustained while filming Total Wipeout.

Former Kenny Everett sidekick Cleo Rocos and Jade Goody’s personal trainer Kevin Adams asked actors’ union Equity for legal advice on whether they had a case to demand compensation.

Both were injured during a celebrity edition of the tough It’s A Knockout-style show.

Kevin tore ligaments while Celebrity Big Brother star Cleo suffered a knee injury which left her on crutches for three weeks.

They were not the only celebrities to suffer injuries during filming of the celebrity special in Argentina.

Former EastEnder Joe Swash dislocated his shoulder, ex-Olympic hurdler Sally Gunnell suffered severe bruising on her thighs, children’s presenter Kirsten O’Brien had a damaged knee and TV host Dominic Littlewood hurt his leg.

At the time, producers Endemol stressed they take health and safety extremely seriously and require potential contestants to fill in lengthy forms about their health.

A TV source said today that Endemol already have an idea for a replacement for the Wipeout series.