Echo Beach to be washed up by ITV?

Echo Beach and its spin-off comedy Moving Wallpaper could face the axe along with other ITV shows that are struggling in the ratings.

Crime drama Rebus, starring Ken Stott, has already been axed and ITV executives are said to be holding talks this week over whether a number of the channel's new - and unperforming - dramas will return, according to reports in The Guardian.

The future of Honest, starring Amanda Redman, and royal drama The Palace is being considered alongside Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach, starring Martine McCutheon and Hugo Speer.

Although no decisions have yet been taken on whether any of the dramas will return, not all are expected to survive, with Echo Beach and Moving Wallpaper almost certain to become casualties.

Penned by Tony Jordan, Moving Wallpaper attracted 2.4 million viewers on Friday, while Echo Beach dipped to an audience low of 1.9 million.

Honest, which pulled in four million viewers for its final episode last week, is thought to be the most likely to get a second series as it attracted the best results on the audience appreciation – or AI - index.

The ITV spokeswoman added: "As many of this year's 9pm dramas are still on air no decisions have yet been made on recommissions.

"However, we are already having conversations with producers of these shows with regards to second series.

"ITV1 is currently the best performing terrestrial channel so far this year and this is testament to the fact that the new schedule is performing well."

Rebus, based on Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus novels, has starred John Hannah and latterly Ken Stott as the battle-hardened detective and was first broadcast in April 2000.

But Ken recently told producers that he did not want to carry on in the role - and it's thought that ITV did not want to continue the SMG Productions-made drama without him.

An ITV spokeswoman said: "At this time there are no plans to make any further episodes of Rebus, but one-off specials are a possibility for the future."

Ken's debut as Inspector Rebus attracted 8.4 million viewers in January 2006.