Hit Channel 4 show axed after one season-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Channel 4 has axed a popular reality show after just one series (Picture: Channel 4)

Channel 4 has made a decision on the future of two of its biggest entertainment shows from the past year.

While one will return for another outing, another hit series has been scrapped.

It’s good news for Paddy McGuinness as Tempting Fortune, his adventure reality series, will be back.

Alas, not-so-good news for Danny Dyer, as Scared of the Dark, which he hosted, has had its lights turned out.

The news was confirmed by Deadline on Tuesday (April 23) following months of speculation over which big launches from 2023 would be green-lit for a second season.

Scared of the Dark saw eight celebrities pushed to their limits when sent into a bunker, tasked with eating, sleeping and, well, surviving, for eight days in total darkness.

Scared of the Dark will not return (Picture: Channel 4)

The show was hugely popular with viewers in 2023 (Picture: Channel 4)

Along the way, they were given challenges which, if won, would reward them with useful items. If lost, their survival would be made even more complicated.

A professional psychologist was on hand to offer an expert opinion on the celebrities’ well-being at the time.

Contestants who felt that they could not last any longer could leave, by admitting that they were, indeed, scared of the dark.

The stars who took part in the first (and only) series included boxing champ Nicola Adams, Love Island icon Chloe Burrows, former super-middleweight boxer Chris Eubank, The Wanted’s Max George, and comedian Chris McCausland.

Also parking were Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt and comedian Donna Preston.

Ultimately, only one could be triumphant and the final episode saw former England footballer Paul Gascoigne declared the winner in a vote by the remaining celebrities.

Danny Dyer fronted the star-studded challenge show (Picture: Channel 4)

It’s good news for Paddy McGuinness, as Tempting Fortune is getting an upgrade (Picture: TUX85)

Despite garnering over a million viewers, Channel 4 has decided Scared of the Dark isn’t worth another series.

Former Take Me Out host Paddy will be celebrating, though, as Tempting Fortune isn’t just returning – it’s being upgraded.

Series 2 will see the show increase from six to eight episodes, with contestants once again dropped in a tropical jungle location where they spend several days.

The goal is for them to avoid all the wild temptations to win a massive amount of cash.

Series 1 – which was filmed in South Africa – concluded with ex-pro basketball player James taking home the most, around £22,000, after the prize pot began at £30,000.

The prize fund and filming location for series 2 are yet to be confirmed.

It remains to be seen what the prize pot for series 2 will be (Picture: Channel 4)

Rise and Fall will not be returning either (Picture: Channel 4)

Tempting Fortune’s first series was watched by around 1.5million people per episode, with the broadcaster revealing it was one of the most-watched shows last year for the coveted 16-34-year-old audience, with a viewing completion rate of 91% across the series.

The key to its success appeared to be the show’s performance on Channel 4’s streaming service, which sealed the deal when the discussion was had about recommissioning.

Channel 4 has seen major shake-ups recently following a new five-year plan announced by bosses in January, which focuses more on streaming rather than traditional television.

Sadly, some much-loved shows have been lost along the way, including Greg James’s Rise and Fall.

The controversial game show brought together 16 ordinary people as they competed for the position of power and £100,000, in a format that had some parallels with the enormously popular BBC show The Traitors.

Following its axe, a spokesperson for the show told Metro.co.uk: ‘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.’

Channel 4 has been contacted for comment.

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