Show Me the Funny has shed half a million viewers, spelling poor ratings for ITV1.

The show, fronted by Jason Manford, averaged 2million viewers last night, combining the main channel, HD and +1 figures.

That’s 500,000 viewers down on last week, and represented just over eight per cent of the total TV audience at 9pm. Of further concern will be the fact that until now, the slot has pulled an average of 4.44 million viewers to ITV this year.

There was also noticeably less conversation on Twitter about the show last night compared to previous weeks, where the most common complaint is that producers were showing too much of the tasks, and not enough of the stand-up.

Show Me the Funny faces tough competition in the 9pm slot from New Tricks, which was seen by an impressive 8.24mllion on BBC One yesterday.

Last night, Cole Parker was ejected from the show after being slated by judge Kate Copstick.

After watching the 37-year-old struggle to entertain an audience of 12 to 14-year-olds, critic Copstick told him bluntly: ‘Cole I think you’re quite shit.

‘I’ve seen you three weeks on the trot and I don’t think you are a good comic and I don’t think you can read a room. Your comedic ego has been writing cheques that your talent can’t cash, obviously for many, many, many years.’

Cole said: ‘I’m sorry if I upset you.’

And as he was unanimously voted off, Cole mused: ‘I think comedy is objective, it’s like music and not everyone likes every type so fair enough. I had a good show.’

Even Alan Davies, usually the more supportive judge, was unimpressed, saying: ‘Cole you’re in my bottom two each week, you need to find out who you are.’

Cole’s ejection saved 47-year-old Rudi Lickwood, who was also in the bottom two.

Copstick told him: ‘Rudi, you need to get over yourself. You’re too old, too ugly and too experienced to be mucking about like this, but I believe you could do better.’

The other acts still in the competition are: Stuart Goldsmith, Ellie Taylor, Patrick Monahan, Tiffany Stevenson, Dan Mitchell and Alfie Moore.

There are three more weeks of heats before a live final at the Hammersmith Apollo. The ultimate winner receives £100,000, a national tour and a DVD deal with 2entertain.