Channel 4 has reportedly axed popular show Scared of the Dark after just one series despite its huge success.
Hosted by Danny Dyer, the experimental TV show asked a whole host of famous faces to live in complete darkness for a week as they were tasked with various challenges.
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne was crowned the series winner after living eight days in complete darkness as he beat Love Island’s Chloe Burrows, ex boxer Chris Eubank and comedian Chris McCausland in the competition.
Despite raking in more than a million viewers, Channel 4 has decided against it returning for a second series, according to Deadline.
It was reported in January that Channel 4 is undergoing a massive change after they announced they are cutting nearly 250 roles, equating to just over 15% of its full-time workforce.
Channel 4 has reportedly axed popular show Scared of the Dark hosted by Danny Dyer after just one series despite its huge success
Despite raking in more than a million viewers, Channel 4 has decided against it returning for a second series, according to Deadline
This is a larger figure than the 200 predicted by industry sources as chief executive Alex Mahon is expected to announce the highest number of redundancies in the company’s history.
The channel has been forced to cancel a handful of programmes, including SAS: Who Dares Wins and Steph’s Packed Lunch, as part of efforts to reduce costs.
Their HQ on Horseferry Road in London will also be sold as they seek to find smaller office space in the capital.
Meanwhile it isn’t the first time Scared Of The Dark has come under fire after it was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints.
A total 302 viewers contacted the broadcasting watchdog with complaints about the programme, with many, including the RSPCA, raising concern for a rabbit used in a task.
During one task the stars had to put their hands in a series of boxes and feel their way around to work out what’s inside.
But viewers were worried the rabbit and other animals involved in the task would have been scared sitting in a tiny box as they watched Scarlett Moffatt and Chris McCausland shriek and ‘prod’ the bunny, not knowing what it was.
Viewers vented on Twitter at the time, with the RSPCA saying they were also concerned.
Hosted by Danny, the experimental TV show asked a whole host of famous faces to live in complete darkness for a week as they were tasked with various challenges
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne was crowned the series winner after living eight days in complete darkness as he beat Love Island’s Chloe Burrows, ex boxer Chris Eubank and comedian Chris McCausland in the competition
Meanwhile it isn’t the first time Scared Of The Dark has come under fire after it was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints due to the welfare of a rabbit used in a task (pictured Chris McCausland and Scarlett Moffatt)
One wrote: ‘Just watching yesterday’s ‘Scared of the Dark’ and wanted to tell you that to use a live rabbit, locked in a box with two screaming humans poking and prodding it isn’t great TV, in fact, it’s disgusting.’
‘@Channel4 disgusted at your use of a rabbit on scared of the dark!’; ‘The screaming and handling could kill them. Not to mention shoving the poor thing in a tiny box!’
It hasn’t been a good run for Danny after his ambitious new game show was axed by Netflix back in November.
The former EastEnders star had been drafted in to host Cheat in which contestants can scam their way to a lucrative cash prize, alongside actress Ellie Taylor.
But Netflix has dropped the show after just one series following a lacklustre response from subscribers.
A source told The Sun: ‘Danny was great as host, as was Ellie, but Netflix thought one series was just about right.
It didn’t pick up a big following and will hardly go down in game show folklore. He enjoyed making the series, especially banking the pay cheque.’
It hasn’t been a good run for Danny after his ambitious new game show Cheat was axed by Netflix back in November
