Gary Lineker’s ITV gameshow The Box axed after disappointing ratings

wheretowatch.tv undertsands Gary Lineker’s ITV gameshow The Box will apparently not return for a second series, with the broadcaster understood to have decided against recommissioning the celebrity format following its first run.

The decision comes after a difficult run for the six-part entertainment show, which was launched with Lineker as the face of a major new Saturday-night format following his departure from the BBC.

The Box ultimately struggled to establish itself in the ITV schedule, with the broadcaster making a series of changes to its original plans before and during the run.

ITV initially planned to launch The Box earlier in 2026, but the series was pushed back to the autumn. It was then scheduled across Saturday and Sunday nights during its opening weeks in an effort to avoid a direct clash with Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. ITV subsequently moved the fifth episode forward from its planned 8pm Sunday slot to 7pm.

The broadcaster also reduced the running times of the episodes before transmission. The original plan consisted of episodes ranging from 60 to 90 minutes, but the series was re-edited, with one 75-minute episode and the remaining episodes cut to an hour.

Within minutes of the new series launching, viewers flocked to social media to say it was overcomplicated, whilst critics hated it.

What was The Box about?

The Box was an unusual celebrity competition in which 10 famous contestants were placed inside giant yellow boxes and transported to mystery locations.

When the boxes opened, the celebrities discovered where they were and what challenge awaited them. The games could test physical ability, mental skills or logic, with contestants often given minimal information and expected to work out what they were supposed to do.

At the end of each episode, the two lowest-performing contestants went head-to-head in The Duel, with the loser eliminated from the competition.

The format was produced by Twofour, part of ITV Studios, and originated in Norway.

Who was in The Box?

The celebrity line-up brought together stars from television, sport, music, social media and politics.

The contestants were:

• Joey Essex
• John Bercow
• Ranvir Singh
• JB Gill
• Sara Davies
• Danny Aarons
• Ellie Taylor
• Graeme Souness
• Jenny Ryan
• Shakira Khan

The full line-up was confirmed by ITV ahead of the series.

Lineker was announced as host in 2025, with ITV describing him at the time as a strong fit for the format.

The Box struggled to find an audience

The programme attracted considerable attention because it represented Lineker’s first major ITV entertainment role following his departure from Match of the Day.

However, the reception to the format was mixed, with reviews questioning the show’s deliberately confusing structure and the lack of clarity around its challenges. The Guardian described the format as bizarre, while The Independent similarly questioned whether the format gave Lineker enough to work with.

Viewers also reacted negatively to the opening episode, with reports of audiences expressing confusion about the show’s concept and challenges.

The scheduling changes added to the sense that ITV was attempting to find the right place for the programme. By September 17, ITV’s industry-facing Thinkbox site was listing The Box in a Sunday 7pm slot.

Gary Lineker will continue working with ITV

Despite The Box coming to an end after its first series, Lineker’s relationship with ITV is not expected to end with the programme. Instead, the channel is thought to be finding ways for him to be part of sports-themed content, marking an end to his stint fronting light entertainment shows.

The presenter has continued to work with the broadcaster during 2026, including an appearance on ITV’s World Cup coverage. Lineker also said in September that he is “working for ITV now” when discussing his future after leaving the BBC.

The Box was only one part of Lineker’s expanding television and production work. He remains heavily involved with his Goalhanger production company and its podcast output, while also working on other television projects, including the Netflix darts series Beat Luke Littler.

The cancellation therefore marks the end of The Box, rather than an end to Lineker’s relationship with ITV, with further projects understood to be under consideration.

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