Gary Barlow’s BBC Show ‘Let It Shine’ Risks Cancellation As It’s ‘Too Nice’

Gary Barlow’s former pal and manager of Take That – Nigel Martin-Smith – has said that Gary’s new BBC show is doomed to fail: because the head judge is just too nice.

Speaking to The Sun, the music impresario claimed that the show needed a judging panel that was able to give honest criticism and wasn’t afraid to offend:

“I think artists are naturally supportive of other artists because they know what’s it’s like.

Copyright: [BBC]

“But the viewer doesn’t care, sat at home watching it saying ‘that’s bloody awful why is everyone saying they were good?’

“I think it suffers, when you do a show with a judging panel that doesn’t do what it says on the tin. If someone comes on and weren’t right and everyone goes ‘oh yeah you were wonderful’, that’s probably why the show’s suffered.”

The show has been plagued with poor ratings since it started, concerning channel bosses after opening with over 5 million viewers for the initial episode, but then losing a million the following week.

It’s currently getting beaten by The Voice, which has now moved channels to ITV.

Copyright: [BBC]

However, Nigel – a talent show judge himself at one point – did have some praise for the show, and didn’t think it was all bad:

“I think the show is fantastic. I think for what it is it’s very clever because Gary’s not setting out to find the next Take That.

“But if you look at those sorts of shows the ones that do well you’ve got Simon Cowell being critical, ditto BGT, and Strictly you’ve got Craig Revel Horwood.

“They’re almost like a panto with the villain being the baddy, but also I think you’ve got to have someone being honest.

“I think they need that really and it’s the only thing that doesn’t work for me.”

Let It Shine continues tonight on BBC One.