Ricky Gervais” latest comedy series Life”s Too Short is struggling to establish itself in BBC2”s 2130 primetime slot. Three episodes in, its audience is in decline.

This follow-up to The Office and Extras has had mixed reviews, with some critics regarding the show, about a showbiz dwarf, as offensive. The first episode scored 2.5m but by its third outing the audience was 1.3m.

Gervais isn”t the only one struggling to hold on to viewers. Perhaps surprisingly, the second series of Tom Hollander”s sitcom Rev is also losing audience. Airing just ahead of Life”s Too Short on Thursday, episode 3 attracted 1.4m, down from 1.7m the week before.