Shop Smart, Save Money rip into ‘poor’ new format as they slam reboot for ‘ruining The Gadget Show’s legacy’
FANS of The Gadget Show have been left unhappy with the reboot called Shop Smart, Save Money.
Channel 5 bosses renewed the beloved series for another run, but completely rebranded the franchise, and changed some elements of the programme.
It still features presenters who teach Brits how to get more bang for their buck while shopping.
But many viewers are claiming they have scrapped the focus on demonstrating how to get ahold of new gadgets and tech, turning it into more of a general consumer show instead.
Others complained that host Georgie Barrat was missing from the intro episodes.
Former fans took to social media to criticise the reboot.
One person hit out: “The ‘new format’ as many have said is awful mostly due to involving ‘members of the public’ for the whole episode and making the show no longer about the ‘latest gadgets and tech’ and more a consumer show with buying advice.
“This third series doggedly sticking to the new, unpopular format (new house and Georgie replaced for an unfathomable reason) and most confusing of all has ditched the Gadget Show brand which I’d have thought was a valuable thing.
“The net result is the ‘show’ returned with no fanfare, no advertising, and a new name. The show must have lost and alienated a significant number of its previous audience. The decision to press on with the new format is hard to understand and surely this will be the year the show dies.”
Another added: “It really was a sneak return under the radar. I saw some techy something in the listings, only because I was recording Alex Conran’s scam show after it.
“I’m not even bothered that I missed it. I’ll watch next week but mainly to see how much more damage they’ve done to the brand.”
A third agreed: “I watched one episode. It was pretty poor. The only segment that might have interested me was about torches, and it was too shallow to be useful.
“The whole show is very much about consumerism now, telling us which new product to buy. Not much interest in technology. Not much interest in fun.
“I can’t imagine it going for the world record longest loop-de-loop in a radio controlled car — The Gadget Show held 8 world records. It’s a shame.”
Channel 5 producers previously defended their decision to rebrand the show with a lengthy statement.
It read: “While the latest series has proved popular, we acknowledge that there has been some negative feedback regarding the recent format change.
“We understand that change can sometimes be met with mixed reactions, and we appreciate the feedback we have received from our viewers.
“The decision to transition to The Good Gadget Guide: Shop Smart, Save Money was made to appeal to the broadest possible audience while providing valuable insights and recommendations in the realm of technology.
“The world of gadgets is constantly evolving, and we want to ensure that our content remains relevant and valuable to a broad range of viewers.
“Our goal is to strike a balance that appeals to a diverse audience while staying true to our commitment of providing valuable and engaging content in the world of technology.”