KNIFE EDGE
Huge Channel 4 competition show hanging in the balance as bosses halt production on new series
The programme first hit screens almost a decade ago and has become a firm favourite
CHANNEL 4 has delayed recommissioning long-running reality series Hunted.
The most recent series ended on April 21, although it had been filmed back in summer 2022 and kept on the shelf.
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Famous names including Denise Welch, Duncan James, Giovanni Pernice, as well as EastEnders and I’m A Celebrity star Danielle Harold filmed a celebrity version last year.
However, no air date has been provided thus far by Channel 4.
Broadcast reports the delay in commissioning the series is due to Channel 4 prolonging the show’s stay on the shelf and commissioning cycles falling out-of-sync with transmission.
This means no new series will record this year.
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It comes as viewers hit out at the show and complained the action is no longer realistic.
People tuning into the latest series claimed it had been ‘ruined’ by some of the methods Hunters are allowed to use while searching for their targets.
One pair, Cathy and Annida, saw themselves eliminated after being spotted by a woman positioned to watch them and take pictures as evidence they had visited the seaside town of Folkestone.
One viewer moaned: "I wonder what unrealistic action we will see the Hunters use today to catch the Fugitives. Such a shame that Channel 4 ruin such a cool programme with nonsense."
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Another hit out: “How fixed was that.”
The programme began in 2015 and sees a group of contestants (‘Fugitives’) go on the run for around three weeks while aiming to win a share of £100,000.
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They are tasked with avoiding the Hunters, made up of intelligence personnel, former and serving police and on-foot teams.
During the competition, the Hunters use resources including CCTV and call tracing while also having access to contestants’ personal information.
Another tactic could see the Hunters use monetary rewards for members of the public to secure a successful capture.
Any remaining contestants by the final day must reach a designated ‘extraction’ point before capture, thereby winning their share of the prize.
Hunted is available on Channel 4.