David Tennant's new ITV game show has reportedly flopped in the world of TV amid very low viewing figures. The Genius Game first aired earlier this year in a timeslot that put it up against the popular BBC show Race Across The World and it appears the gamble has not paid off as the programme has now been branded as an 'expensive flop'.

Hosted by the beloved 54-year-old Scots actor, best known for his role in Doctor Who, the show saw 11 'geniuses' battle it out in what was dubbed as a 'fiendish battle of wits' by the broadcaster to test their intelligence and try to clinch a top prize. However, only 1.2M ITV viewers tuned in for the first episode, according to figures from Broadcast Now, compared to the 3.1M viewers pulled in by Race Across the World in the same time slot over on BBC One.

On its second episode, viewing figures for the Genius Game slumped to 846,000. According to the Radio Times, the low ratings for The Genius Game put the show at just half the 2.2 million average for the 9pm time slot on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Following the underwhelming response to the show's debut, Tennant's programme is now reportedly at risk of being axed, the Metro reports.

A TV insider told The Sun that after the game show’s finale failed to accumulate viewing figures to trump a BBC Two nature documentary about pangolins, the show’s future isn’t optimistic.

Viewing figures for one evening were matched by Pangolins: The World’s Most Wanted Animal which looked at why the scaly creatures are so endangered.

The source told the publication: "Publicly ITV maintains that no firm decision has been taken, but most execs and commissioners view it as a disaster.

"Not only did it occupy a primetime 9pm slot, it had a big-name host and was seen as a potential rival for BBC’s The Traitors.

"But of the five main channels on June 11, it was beaten by two and equaled by BBC2, thanks to those pangolins."

Another insider previously told the publication that while Tennant is a beloved household name, his involvement with the show resulted in increased costs, meaning the disappointing ratings came as an even bigger blow to ITV.

According to The Sun, the reality game show cost a whopping £2.5M to make but only drew an average of £661,000 by the end of its run.

ITV shifted The Genius Game to Wednesday slots for the latter part of its run, with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? celebrity specials taking the Thursday slot.

An ITV spokesperson told The Sun no decision regarding the show's future has been made as of yet.