Despite its success, Channel 4 will not air a second season of Banged Up: Stars Behind Bars.
The project immersed celebrities in the now-decommissioned HMP Shrewsbury, providing an authentic taste of prison life.
The first episodes included Johnny Mercer, Sid Owen from EastEnders, Marcus Luther from Gogglebox, former Conservative MP Neil Parish, musician HRVY, writer Peter Hitchens, and comedian Tom Rosenthal taking on the challenge.
Former prisoners joined them inside, where they were instructed to behave in the same manner as before reforming, adding to the turmoil.
Their antics garnered the first series a Bafta nomination in the reality category, but it was defeated by Squid Game: The Challenge at the renowned awards ceremony.
Viewers were full of praise for Banged Up, including Rachel Woollett who said it was ‘the best reality TV show you’re not watching,’ and Nick Harvey, who wrote the music for the series, added: ‘It’s totally insane; absolutely compulsive viewing.’
Levison Wood called it a ‘highlight’ of their evening, meanwhile, Nick Walker was perplexed at what he was watching.
‘Can’t believe I’ve just watched Sid Owen try to escape prison and Johnny Mercer MP stare at a man fishing tobacco out of his bumhole,’ he wrote on X.
FYI, #BangedUp is the best reality TV show you’re not watching. pic.twitter.com/oBd4WarV3z
— Rachel Woollett (@RachelWoollett) November 8, 2023
Can't believe I've just watched Sid Owen try to escape prison and Johnny Mercer MP stare at a man fishing tobacco out of his bumhole. #BangedUp
— Nick Walker (@nickw84) October 31, 2023
Producers are said to be surprised by the decision to not return with a follow-up due to the success of its debut.
A source previously claimed to The Sun that they were already considering famous faces to lock up, with Nigel Farage being on their possibility list. They were also looking at creating a version set inside a women’s prison with an all-female line-up of prison staff, prisoners, and celebrities.
‘Producers were shocked by Channel 4’s decision to axe the show,’ an insider told the publication.
‘Pundits raved about the show and it was loved by viewers, so it seems a strange decision to get rid of it. It must purely be for financial reasons.’
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘Banged Up was a unique one-off social experiment that was only commissioned for one series.’
The broadcaster aims to become a digital-first public service streamer by 2030, and has already reduced some shows.
This contains Danny Dyer’s Scared of the Dark, which had celebrities living in pitch-black settings and completing challenges. The game show Rise and Fall, hosted by Greg James, had 16 average people competing for power and £100,000, however it will not return.
Last month, Channel 4 also shut down Kerrang!, The Box, Magic, Kiss, and 4Music.
‘To stay competitive and invest in digital priorities, Channel 4 will reduce its operational costs, particularly out of legacy activities. This will simplify its operations to become leaner, nimbler, and more sustainable in the long term,’ they explained.
As part of its plan, Channel 4 will have ‘fewer, stronger new titles that generate more scale and impact’, increase YouTube content, and ‘reduce headcount by 18%’.
The broadcaster has made bold decisions to remove Question of Sport, Steph’s Packed Lunch, and The Big Celebrity Detox.
Ofill Allen was one of the former convicts who voluntarily returned to prison for Banged Up in the hopes of providing people with insight into and potentially improving the criminal justice system. He was released in 2020 after serving 17 years in prison for the murder of an alleged rapist at the age of 19.
Sharing a cell with former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer was eye-opening, and he later said that he wants to see more politicians locked away.
‘More MPs need to go to prison so they can see the reality,’ he said.
‘They would understand it if they lived it and experienced it for themselves. You’ve got to live it, breathe it, eat it, sleep it, s**t it, to truly know what it feels like.’
Banged Up: Stars Behind Bars series one is available to watch on Channel 4
Source My Celebrity Life.