The latest season of The Bachelorette starring Ali Oetjen struggled to keep audiences entertained, limping onto TV screens with the lowest ratings in the franchise's history.

And now, just four seasons after its debut, it seems Channel 10 may be forced to put the show to rest.

'Audiences became fatigued by the show after Ali's season,' an industry source told NW on Monday, adding that it didn't help that The Bachelorette launched the week after The Bachelor ended.

'The writing is on t following dwindling ratings the reality dating franchise fails to keep audiences entertained The latest season of The Bachelorette, starring Ali Oetjen, (centre) struggled to keep audiences entertained, limping onto TV screens with the lowest ratings in the show's history

The insider continued: 'There was already outrage following Honey Badger [former Bachelor Nick Cummins] and his decision to dump both girls in the finale – that, in addition to the backlash surrounding Ali's appointment, was a recipe for disaster.'

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However, it's not all over yet for the reality dating franchise which saw Sam Frost, Georgia Love, Sophie Monk and Ali Oetjen search for love, as insiders report the show is just taking a year off in an attempt to lure back interest from the public.

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Fans turned their back on Ali's season of The Bachelorette after her former boyfriend, Bachelor In Paradise's Grant Kemp, accused her of cheating on him on a staircase.

Looking for love in the spotlight! The reality dating franchise saw the likes of Ali Oetjen (pictured) and Georgia Love search for love

Yawn! 'Audiences became fatigued by the show after Ali's season,' a source told NW

It didn't help that Ali was under the constant comparison of previous Bachelorette stars, including 'Australia's most-loved bogan' Sophie Monk, whose season broke ratings records.

David Knox, the editor of TV Tonight, told Daily Mail Australia last year that viewers were underwhelmed by Ali.

'You have to wonder if Ten painted themselves into a corner with the casting coup of Sophie Monk [star of The Bachelorette in 2017],' he said.

Solid star: Season two of The Bachelorette, starring Georgia Love in 2016, debuted to 655,000 viewers, placing Ali Oetjen well behind as far as opening night numbers go. Georgia is pictured with the season's winner Lee Elliott

'She was so self-deprecating and good-humoured that viewers embraced her, warts and all. They pulled it off again with the Honey Badger [Nick Cummins, star of The Bachelor 2018], notably drawing in more male viewers.

'It was not surprising that viewers were underwhelmed with the announcement of Ali Oetjen who we have watched twice before [on The Bachelor in 2013 and Bachelor in Paradise in 2018].'

David added that the new season of The Bachelorette has aired too soon after The Bachelor - and Bachelor in Paradise before that - leading to viewer fatigue.

'The other concern is whether three seasons in one year is just too much. Several years ago, Ten realised they were damaging MasterChef by having too many spin-offs in a calendar year and wisely pared it back to the 'mother ship',' he said.

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The Bachelor will be returning in 2019 with suitor and contestant auditions currently taking place, along with spin-off series Bachelor In Paradise.