Celebrity Hunted is returning to Channel 4 this August, with a new group of famous faces going on the run in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. Produced by Shine TV, the series will see six celebrity pairs attempt to disappear across mainland Britain for 14 days while being tracked by the Hunters.
The full line-up includes Strictly Come Dancing professionals Amy Dowden MBE and Carlos Gu, alongside entertainers and actors Brian Conley and Lucy Conley. Former Love Island stars Chris Taylor and Toby Aromolaran will also take part, while presenters JJ Chalmers and Sophie Morgan form another team. They are joined by presenting siblings Scarlette and Stuart Douglas, as well as comedians Jen Brister and Laura Smyth.
Each pair must cut themselves off from their usual lives and avoid leaving any trace behind. Once the hunt begins, every phone call, sighting or mistake could give the Hunters the lead they need.
Ray Howard returns to lead the Hunters, a team drawn from policing, military and intelligence backgrounds. They will use CCTV, facial recognition, drones, helicopters and cyber investigations as they try to track down every celebrity before the 14 days are over.
This series will begin with an aerial launch among the London skyscrapers before the celebs scatter across the country. Those who manage to avoid capture will then face a final escape challenge at the end of the run.
Matt Bennett, Director of Programmes for Shine TV, described it as the show’s most ambitious series yet, with plenty of mischief planned between the opening launch and the final escape. Channel 4’s Factual Entertainment Commissioning Editor, Ian Dunkley, said the fun comes from watching famous faces rely on members of the public while trying to stay hidden from a determined team of security professionals.
For CultureCues, this is a strong line-up, with a good mix of comedians, presenters and reality TV favourites. Watching celebrities try to disappear when they are so recognisable is always part of the fun, and you never know who might spot them along the way. This group should bring plenty of personality to the chase. We love this series and would absolutely want to take part, although realistically we would probably be caught in the nearest Spoons with a pitcher in hand… We will definitely be tuning in, and we already have a few guesses about who will be caught first. Let the hunt begin.
Celebrity Hunted returns to Channel 4 this August.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.