Producers bid to save 'The Mole'

The producers of acclaimed US reality show The Mole have launched a campaign to save it from being axed.

ABC cancelled the series in 2004 but revived it this year because of the lack of scripted shows, caused by the writers' strike.

As the fifth season comes to an end, having failed to draw particularly impressive ratings, its executive producers are urging fans to make an effort to tune in.

SaveTheMole.com, created by EPs Scott Stone and Clay Newbill to gain support, states: "We still have a chance to show ABC how much people love the show by getting our ratings up for the last five episodes.

"If we don't, the show itself could be facing execution at the end of this season... and this time it might really be fatal."

The reality series sees a saboteur "mole" planted among a group of reality contestants and charged with causing disruption. Participants have to guess who the mole is throughout the series, and each week the one furthest from the truth is eliminated. The audience only finds out the saboteur's identity at the end of the season.