UKTV has shared an update on two of its shows following speculation amid the Edinburgh TV Festival this week that they aren’t expected to be renewed for a second series

UKTV has shared an update on two game shows, including one hosted by Dermot O’Leary, this week(Image: UKTV)

An update has been given on two game shows amid speculation that they aren’t due to return. One, hosted by Dermot O’Leary, launched just months ago, whilst the other, fronted by Jimmy Carr, debuted with its first series last year.

It’s been suggested that Silence is Golden and Battle in the Box aren’t expected to return on UKTV. It comes amid this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival, which opened yesterday, with the broadcaster among those taking part.

Silence is Golden launched in May. Hosted by Dermot, the six part series saw a studio audience tasked with not making any noise in a bid to split £250,000 between them. Battle in the Box, hosted by Jimmy, debuted last year. Over eight episodes, viewers saw pairs of celebrities “battle it out” in a box.

Amid speculation that both shows aren’t likely to be renewed, UKTV has provided an update. A spokesperson to the Mirror this evening that “no decisions” have been made on either Silence is Golden or Battle in the Box yet.

The update comes after it was reported that UKTV executives spoke about both shows at the Edinburgh TV Festival this week. The broadcaster was the subject of a panel discussion at the annual festival in Scotland this morning.

UKTV has told the Mirror that there’s no decision yet on whether Silence is Golden, which featured Katherine Ryan (left) and Dermot O’Leary (right), will return for a second series(Image: UKTV)

According to the Sun, executives teased that they are looking elsewhere for content. They said: “[They are] both fantastic shows and maybe in another universe we might be keeping both of those shows at the moment landing shows at that budget and scale that’s not where our heads are at.

“We are really looking to try and do something different so we can bring it back in volume. They are great producers and we have absolutely work loved working with both of them.”

Silence is Golden, which launched in May, saw the studio audience, who all had microphones on, given £250,000 to split between them. They were tasked with not making any noise in order to ensure the prize fund didn’t reduce.

Katherine Ryan, Seann Walsh and Fatiha El-Ghorri were the team captains, who, along with special guests, were pitted against the audience. They were tasked with making them react to situations in the hope of lowering the prize fund.

Every sound from the audience brought the total prize money down. If the entertainers in each episode managed to get it to reach zero through various activities on stage, they would be able to give the prize money to charity.

The spokesperson said that it’s the same for Battle in the Box, which was hosted by Jimmy Carr(Image: UKTV)

Battle in the Box, which premiered in July last year, was described as an “outlandish game show” involving pairs of celebrities who were stuck inside a box. Each pair competed again another in a series of challenges on the show.

It was teased prior to its release that they would “battle it out for pride, prizes, and floorspace while living in a box”. Partnerships in the first series included Jamie Laing and Nabil Abdulrashid, as well as Ellie Taylor and Jessica Knappett.

A source previously told the Sun that Battle in the Box wasn’t expected to return for a second series at least at the moment. The source told the outlet earlier this year: “[It] is being rested and no more series are planned for now.”