THE FORTUNE HOTEL 'SET TO BE AXED' BY ITV AFTER TWO SERIES AS REALITY SHOW FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Reality competition The Fortune Hotel is facing an uncertain future on ITV, with reports suggesting it could be axed after two series.

When approached by TV Zone, an ITV spokesperson said: "The Fortune Hotel hasn’t been confirmed for another series at this stage, and talks are still underway regarding the show's future. Both previous series are available on ITVX, where the show regularly ranked amongst the top ten shows, and this summer the second series received 4.4 million streams as part of ITV’s biggest ever August."

A source told The Sun: "The huge sum of money involved in making the challenge show means that unless execs can find some inventive way to fund series three, it’s highly unlikely to happen. When you’re paying millions to launch a programme, it really needs to get the viewing figures to get any kind of return on the investment. Though it got a decent following, they just couldn’t justify shelling out so much moving forward. The jackpot alone was eye-watering"

Hosted by the incomparable Stephen Mangan, 10 pairs of contestants arrive at The Fortune Hotel, where they will be given an all-important briefcase. Inside one case is the ultimate jackpot of £250,000 in cash, eight are empty, and one contains the dreaded Early Checkout Card – whichever pair is left holding that case at the end of each show will see their stay brought to a dramatic, premature end. 

Every day the contestants have the chance to try to uncover who has which case through playing compelling challenges, and as the “Whogotit” mystery ramps up for the hotel guests, viewers at home will remain deliciously in-the-know throughout, witness to all of their plans and strategies playing out.

The climax of each episode is the nerve-shredding case swap in the seductive Lady Luck bar where each pair must decide whether to keep or swap their case. Have the couple with the life-changing sum of cash managed to bluff and blag their way free of suspicion? Or will their case be ruthlessly taken off them? And who will be left holding the case containing the Early Checkout Card?

The Fortune Hotel is available now on ITVX.