Channel Nine’s new reality TV series Shark! premiered to middling ratings on Sunday night, with the Tammy Hembrow-starring show failing to win over viewers.
Despite an all-star cast featuring Tammy, 32, The Block’s Scott Cam, Gold Logie winner Lynne McGranger and Olympic great Ariarne Titmus, it finished in third place in the ratings.
Its 628,000 viewers were well behind Channel Ten‘s MasterChef Australia viewership of 655,000 and Seven’s AFL and The 1% Club, which won the night with 920,000 viewers.
However, the series was not screened in Perth on Sunday due to the death of Steven Mattaboni, who was killed by a large great white shark, on May 16.
The expensive reality TV series – which is reportedly costing Nine about $1.7 million per episode to produce – is co-hosted by former Navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder and shark expert Annie Guttridge.
The show is based on a UK reality show called Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, which was cancelled after one season due to low ratings.
Channel Nine’s new reality TV series Shark! premiered to middling ratings on Sunday night, with the Tammy Hembrow-starring show failing to win over viewers. Pictured: Tammy and series co-host Paul de Gelder
An insider suggested that Shark! failed to win over viewers due to the low stakes on offer.
‘It is a weird show because there is no jeopardy, everyone knows what is going to happen,’ they told The Daily Telegraph.
‘They just fanny around with sharks and no one even gets bitten.’
On Sunday night, Nine fired up the hotly-anticipated premiere episode of the new reality series.
The show notably features influencer Hembrow in her first major television role, with the social media sensation taking up a chunk of screentime during the first instalment.
Tammy began her run by boasting that she thrives in dangerous situations and was thrilled to be getting in an underwater cage to meet some sharks.
However, despite her bravado, Tammy panicked and repeatedly let go of the support bar despite the instructions of the shark expert diving alongside her.
The fitness influencer only lasted a short time underwater, admitting that she had ‘failed’ the task.
Despite an all-star cast featuring Tammy, 32, The Block’s Scott Cam, Gold Logie winner Lynne McGranger and Olympic great Ariarne Titmus, it finished in third place in the ratings
Its 628,000 viewers were well behind Channel Ten’s MasterChef Australia viewership of 655,000 and Seven’s AFL and The 1% Club, which won the night with 920,000 viewers
‘It’s definitely very intense. It was honestly just sharks everywhere that you look,’ a breathless Tammy explained.
‘They were opening their mouths right where my hands were. And I really thought they were going to bite my fingers off,’ she continued.
‘I couldn’t hold onto the bar. I was just sort of flailing around, screaming.’
Tammy confessed it was, ‘a bit embarrassing being so dramatic’ and added, ‘I’m such a drama queen.’
‘I kept freaking out. I’m glad I didn’t throw up, so that’s a win. But I feel like they were like testing how good I would be with the sharks, and I feel like if that’s a pass/fail thing, then I definitely failed,’ the activewear designer said.
Many viewers tuning in were unimpressed, not just by Tammy’s efforts, but by the show, which sees celebrities face off with Great White Sharks.
‘Is this show necessary? I’m finding it boring,’ wrote one person on social media platform, X.
‘So, I can’t stand Tammy but love sharks, what’s a girl to do?’ wrote one conflicted person.
Tammy need not despair, as the newly-minted television star has already landed her next gig.
It was revealed on Sunday that Tammy is set to host the upcoming third series of the reality show Aussie Shore, marking Tammy’s first television hosting role.
