Davina McCall's new BBC1 chat show has started badly, attracting just 3.5million viewers – half that watching ITV rival The Bill.

Executives hoped the £1million Davina would make a difference to their midweek success.

It achieved less than 15 per cent of the 8pm on Wednesday TV audience – also less than Channel 4’s Relocation, Relocation.

A BBC insider told The Sun bosses were “very disappointed” with the news. “A show like that should be getting at least five million viewers," said one. “It may come down to Davina not being as popular as she once was.”