'RI:SE', which last week was heading for a zero TV ratings score as its audience looked set to dip below 100,000, could be axed before the spring unless the situation dramatically improves.
A report in the Sunday Express quoted sources saying that Channel 4 directors were briefing production companies to come up with something similar in style to 'The Big Breakfast', which 'RI:SE' replaced.
'RI:SE' only returned to screens on Monday January 20 after a break over Christmas, during which it was overhauled by producers BSkyB and Princess Productions. The overhaul saw all but one of the original presenting team axed.
The revamp left 'RI:SE' looking ever more like the programme it replaced, except without even the 300,000 viewers that the 'The Big Breakfast' was attracting in its dying days. At its peak, the programme attracted more than 1m viewers and was the height of "water cooler TV".
Channel 4 is looking for a return to the kind of popularity and audiences that 'The Big Breakfast' presenters Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan used to bring.
According to reports, Channel 4 is considering approaching bigger name presenters if it moves ahead and replaces 'RI:SE'. Five's Matthew Wright and ITV's Jane Moore are two names that have been mentioned.
The revamped 'RI:SE' is being fronted by original presenting survivor Edith Bowman who has been partnered with Iain Lee, who previously presented 'The 11 O'Clock Show'. The pair co-present the show between 7am and 8.30am when comedy duo Mel and Sue take over for the last half-hour.
However, the two have failed to stop the haemorrhage of viewers and last week viewing figures sunk to as low as 100,000. If they go any lower, the show will gain a zero TV ratings classification.
Embarrassingly, the programme is being beaten in the ratings by Five's 'Noddy' and 'Bear in The Big Blue House', which draws around 400,000 viewers.
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