Channel 4 poised to axe celebrity reality series halfway through latest run as ratings plunge

IT’S the celebrity spin-off of one of Channel 4’s most popular shows – but it looks like it might be off our screens soon. Celebrity Hunted is barely half way through the latest run, with stars including Amy Dowden and Brian Conley, and already things are looking rocky. Celebrity Hunted looks like it might be off our screens soon Credit: Colin Hutton / Channel 4 / Shine Brian and Lucy Conley at Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich Credit: Colin Hutton / Channel 4 / Shine By this week the number of people watching had dropped to a disappointing 734,000, though catch-up figures have yet to come in. A TV insider said: “Celebrity hunted creates a lot of buzz but doesn’t necessarily bring in big ratings – and it isn’t cheap to make. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! “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. “Channel 4 has a new boss coming in later this year who will make the final decisions on what programmes could be saved.” Celebrity Hunted launched in 2017 and was initially part of C4’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign to raise funds and awareness. But it’s since become a stand alone show running alongside the “civilian” version of the show which began in 2015. There have been seven series of Celebrity Hunted, one airing every years except for 2022 which was the the impact of Covid hampering TV production. The ratings for this year’s series are significantly down on last year’s. Most read in TV The debut episode in 2025 was watched by a peak of almost 1.4m. That was nearly 45 per cent higher than this year’s debut episode which had a peak of 969,000 watching. In the past there’ve been some brilliant celebrity signings, including Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice, Ed Balls and Amanda Holden. This year the line-up included JJ Chalmers, Carlos Gu, Toby Aromolaran and Scarlette Douglas. Martin (Evans) quizzed by police in gripping new ITV drama The Party Credit: ITV / World Productions Bloodied Martin runs through the forest Credit: Rob Youngson / ITV / World Produ Ben (Cullen) with wife Serena (Leonard) Credit: Rob Youngson / ITV / World Produ Ben and Martin in a tense scene Credit: Rob Youngson / ITV / World Produ JUDGING by these first-look snaps of gripping new ITV drama The Party, Luke Evans put blood, sweat and tears into the project. Covered in claret as he races through the woods, his character Martin Gilmour is then seen in a police station’s interrogation room where he is quizzed about the events of one fateful night. Sounds like one hell of a party. Based on ­Elizabeth Day’s novel, the five-parter sees Nine Perfect Strangers star Luke play journalist Martin, who has been shaped by his lifelong friendship with wealthy politician Ben Fitzmaurice (House of the Dragon’s Tom Cullen). Flashbacks reveal their lives at school, university and partying in London.Shocking events unfold during a lavish birthday bash at Ben’s country pile, which threaten both their futures. Riot Women’s Joanna Scanlan plays Martin’s working-class mum Sylvia while Lydia Leonard is Ben’s wife Serena. The Party will air this autumn on ITV1 and ITVX. SHEEN EXPOSES SCANDAL Michael Sheen hopes his damning documentary about chemical contamination in Wales will force change and bring justice to victims Credit: Getty MICHAEL SHEEN hopes his damning documentary about chemical contamination in Wales will force change and bring justice to victims. Buried is a gripping two-parter in which he carries on the work of late whistleblower Douglas Gowan, shining a light on the dumping of toxic waste in his homeland and the cancer concerns linked to it. “The whole point of us making this is to push for something to happen,” said the Good Omens star. “It’s unravelling and unfolding in real time.” Describing a moment where he thought he had come into contact with some dangerous chemicals, he said: “There’s moments like that where it is really daunting. It is scary.” Watch on BBC Two and iPlayer, from Monday, August 17 at 9pm. SIX OF THE NEST FOR DUO Adrian Edmonson and Samuel West’s bird-watching show will get a second series Credit: �5 Broadcasting Limited / Frank Films Press Enquiries: press@channel5.com NOTE: Paramou ADRIAN EDMONDSON and Samuel West’s bird-watching show will take flight for a second series after viewers flocked to the first. Traveling to Yorkshire, West Wales and the remote isles of Scotland, they will see swifts, swallows, curlews, red kites and ospreys in six new episodes of Sam & Ade Go Birding on Channel 5. The duo will also share candid, funny and moving stories of ageing, family and mortality. All Creatures Great And Small actor Sam said: “My dastardly plan to get Adrian addicted to birding seems to be paying off. ” Young Ones icon Ade added: “More birds, more stunning views, more chats, more trips to the pub – it’s a hard life, but someone’s got to do it.” BILLIE PIPER will reunite with Christopher Eccleston for a new Doctor Who adventure. Audio drama The Ninth Doctor Adventures: False Friends, out in October, sees the pair reprise their roles as Rose Tyler and the Time Lord as they travel to a fake Earth after receiving a distress call. Comment now