The Traitors fans could experience some serious deja vu with ITV’s The Neighbourhood.
A sassy tongue-in-cheek BBC host, an impressive jackpot and gossiping “normies” plotting to get their hands on the cash. Sound familiar?
No, this isn’t an archived 2022 article and yes, I do own a TV (who doesn’t own a TV?) so I’m fully aware of The Traitors phenomenon.
I am instead describing The Neighbourhood, ITV’s next reality game show which is set to air its first of 11 episodes tonight, Friday, April 24, at 9pm.
Headed up by the beloved Irish gem Graham Norton, The Neighbourhood sees six real-life households move into a stunning self-contained street in the Peak District, teasingly called “KeepYourEnemies Close”.
The Goal: Compete in high-stakes group challenges, navigate the social dynamic behind closed doors and pray not to be voted out to be in with a chance of the £250,000 prize.
But is this simply The Traitors in disguise?
Swap out the Peaks for the Scottish highlands, the cosy cottages for a sinister castle and Norton for the country’s best-loved fringe, and we’re back on BBC One.
It’s as if The Traitors decided to change the errors of its ways, clean up its act and move away for a fresh start, although old devious habits are hard to shift.
It’s easy to understand why ITV’s big bosses would be desperately trying to sneak a Traitors-esque show into its books.
The Traitors’ season four finale attracted 9.6 million viewing figures according to Deadline, while 11 million tuned in to watch Alan Carr’s win last year, making it the most-watched episode of the UK Traitors ever.
It’s truly grown into a cultural hit, grabbing the attention of US fans too with Alan Cumming taking over Claudia Winkelman’s duties Stateside.
That isn’t to say that The Neighbourhood isn’t worth watching.
If you’re a fan of easy primetime night viewing fused with over-the-fence gossip and humiliating games (just watch the first episode), then this is right up your self-contained street.
However, if it’s the dark sinister format of The Traitors that keeps you coming back for more then perhaps this ITV replica isn’t for you.
While Norton admitted that “things got heated” with tears and “snake” accusations flying, he nevertheless describes it as “wholesome”.
“There are a few moments in the show that really do bring a tear to my eye because it’s just so genuine, so lovely and properly heartwarming,” the star shared.
With its chocolate box houses overlooking a pond thriving with an adorable family of ducks, you can see from the off-set it’s not exactly the sinister backdrop we’re used to.
It’s a far more picture perfect fairy tale than ‘we’re going to be murdered in our beds’ kind of vibes.
So if you’re more into your evil step-mothers rather than sickly sweet princesses, then perhaps it’s better to stick to what you know best and wait for the next edition of Celebrity Traitors coming later this year.
The Neighbourhood premieres on Friday, April 24, at 9pm on ITV.
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