Channel 4 could be set to axe Celebrity Hunted after nearly a decade on air, as ratings for the current season have plummeted. The show, which has seen famous faces take part across several seasons, is currently halfway through its run, but viewing figures have dropped dramatically.
Ratings drop for current season
The latest episode attracted around 734,000 live viewers, though the figure may rise after catch-up numbers are included. This is a significant fall from the first episode of this year's series, which peaked at 969,000 viewers, and last year's debut, which brought in 1.4 million.
According to sources within Channel 4, the drop in audience figures is sounding alarm bells for the broadcaster. One insider told the Sun: "Celebrity Hunted creates a lot of buzz but doesn’t necessarily bring in big ratings – and it isn’t cheap to make. No official decision has been taken on the show’s future and it’s one of a cluster of shows whose future hangs in the balance."
Show's history and future
Celebrity Hunted first aired nearly a decade ago as part of Channel 4's Stand Up to Cancer drive. Based on the civilian version, celebs had three weeks to evade capture by a team of professionals, including police chiefs and private investigators. It quickly became a standalone show due to high ratings.
In total, seven seasons have been produced, with only 2022 seeing no new season due to COVID restrictions. However, this year's edition has not resonated with viewers, and sources suggest its future could be cut short. The insider added: "Channel 4 has a new boss coming in later this year who will make the final decisions on what programmes could be saved."
Channel 4 has been approached for comment.
