Fate of huge Channel 4 competition series to be decided by bosses ‘after celebrity spin-off’

THE fate of one of Channel 4's most popular series is set to be determined by the success of the next celebrity spin-off edition.

Bosses are yet to recommission any further editions of the show until the celebrity edition airs its next series.

Hunted first began airing in 2015 on Channel 4 but the latest civilian edition of the programme to air earlier this year was originally filmed in summer 2022 but was left on the shelf for more than a year and a half.

Now it has been alleged that the broadcaster won't be ordering any more series until the next celebrity edition has aired in full.

According to Broadcast, the show has fallen out of the recommissioning cycle which means it is impossible for the civilian edition to record another series this year.

At present, Channel 4 has an edition of Celebrity Hunted waiting to be aired.

The series was recorded last summer but as yet, there has been no further indication as to when fans will finally get to see it.

Some reports have suggested it could be aired as late as early Spring next year - the same slot the long-delayed civilian edition aired in this year.

This indicated that there may possibly not be an update on the future of Hunted for another 12 months time.

A Channel 4 spokesperson told Broadcast: "We continue to have conversations with [producers] Shine."

Channel 4 have rounded up a slew of telly favourites to take part in the upcoming celeb edition of the show.

Loose Women star Denise Welch is on the bill alongside her husband Lincoln Townley as well as Christine McGuinness teaming up with Blue popstar Duncan James.

They will be joined by a pair of soap sirens in the form of EastEnders legend Danielle Harold and recurring Coronation Street cast member Kimberley Hart-Simpson.

Completing the line-up will be Strictly Come Dancing star Kai Widdrington alongside under-fire pro Giovanni Pernice.

On the programme, pairs of individuals have a set amount of days, often 12 for a celebrity edition and 21 for a civilian edition, to scour across the UK and out-run the team of professional hunters doing their best to locate and track them down.

It spans the whole length of the country with the fugitives having to watch their back and every move at each possible opportunity.