Channel 4 has decided on the future of two of its most popular entertainment series from the last year.
While one will return for another season, another popular series has been cancelled.
Paddy McGuinness is pleased to announce that Tempting Fortune, his adventurous reality series, will return.
Unfortunately for Danny Dyer, the show Scared of the Dark, which he presented, has had its lights switched out.
Deadline verified the announcement on Tuesday (April 23), following months of speculation over which major premieres from 2023 would be green-lit for a second season.
Scared of the Dark followed eight celebrities as they were placed in a bunker and forced to eat, sleep, and, well, survive for eight days in complete darkness.
Along the route, they were offered tasks that, if completed, would result in helpful objects. If they lost, their survival would be considerably more difficult.
A professional psychologist was on hand to provide expert advice on the celebrities’ well-being at the time.
Contestants who thought they couldn’t go any longer might depart by claiming they were afraid of the dark.
The first (and only) season starred boxing champion Nicola Adams, Love Island superstar Chloe Burrows, former super-middleweight boxer Chris Eubank, The Wanted’s Max George, and comedian Chris McCausland.
Scarlett Moffatt from Gogglebox and comedian Donna Preston also parked.
Ultimately, only one could succeed, and the final episode saw former England footballer Paul Gascoigne named the winner by a vote of the surviving celebrities.
Despite gaining over a million views, Channel 4 has determined that Scared of the Dark is not worth another season.
Former Take Me Out presenter Paddy will be overjoyed, too, since Tempting Fortune isn’t just back; it’s being enhanced.
The show’s second season will include eight episodes, with competitors being dumped in a tropical jungle area for many days.
The idea is for them to resist all the outrageous temptations to win a large sum of money.
Series 1, which was recorded in South Africa, ended with ex-professional basketball player James winning the most, roughly £22,000, after the prize pot began at £30,000.
The prize fund and filming location for Series 2 have yet to be revealed.
Tempting Fortune’s inaugural season was seen by about 1.5 million people every episode, with the broadcaster claiming it was one of the most-watched shows last year for the targeted 16-34-year-old demographic, with a 91% viewing completion rate across the series.
The show’s performance on Channel 4’s streaming service looked to be the key to its success, sealing the deal when it came time to recommission.
Channel 4 has lately undergone considerable changes as a result of a new five-year plan introduced by executives in January, which focuses more on streaming than traditional TV.
Unfortunately, some beloved series have disappeared along the road, like Greg James’ Rise and Fall.
The controversial game show featured 16 average individuals competing for power and £100,000 in a framework similar to the popular BBC show, The Traitors.
Following its axe, a spokesperson for the show said: ‘Rise and Fall was a great show that we were very proud of and attracted strong audiences, but Channel 4 is all about the new and we want to make space for the next great new reality idea.
‘We would like to thank Greg and the talented team who made such a hugely fun and innovative show.’
Source My Celebrity Life.