Celebrity Bear Hunt Axed by Netflix After Just One Series
In a shocking move, Netflix has cancelled its highly anticipated television show, Celebrity Bear Hunt, after just one series. According to sources close to the show, the programme, which was hosted by Holly Willoughby and Bear Grylls, was deemed too expensive to produce, despite receiving positive ratings.
The show, which aired in February, featured 12 celebrities, including Spice Girl Mel B and tennis player Boris Becker, who were sent to a jungle in Costa Rica to avoid being hunted down by Bear Grylls. The celebrities faced various challenges and solved puzzles along the way, making for an entertaining and dramatic viewing experience.
However, sources close to the show revealed that the production costs were "eyewatering," with a large set in Costa Rica, numerous staff members, and high-profile celebrities contributing to the hefty expenses. "Everyone was very proud of the show but when it came to it, it was just so expensive to make," a source told the Daily Mail. "You had to have a whole set in Costa Rica, loads of staff and loads of celebrities. The overheads were eyewatering."
The Daily Mail reported that cheaper locations were considered, but none were deemed suitable. The news will come as a blow to Bear Grylls, who had expressed hope that the show would return for a second series. "God willing, we’re just sort of figuring that out at the moment," Grylls said on Radio 2 just two weeks ago.
Celebrity Bear Hunt was Holly Willoughby’s first programme with Netflix, and she had spoken positively about the experience. "It felt like the right time for me," she told the Daily Mail. "When Bear called and described the premise of the show, I was like, ‘Okay, well, firstly it sounds like a great show, it also sounds like a show that my kids would love, my kids love Bear anyway.’"
The show featured a range of celebrities, including Lottie Moss, Danny Cipriani, Big Zuu, Joe Thomas, Kola Bokinni, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Leomie Anderson, Shirley Ballas, Steph McGovern, and Una Healy. There was high drama on the show, which included an incident where interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen became tangled in ropes while rafting, lost consciousness, and had to be revived on the beach by Grylls.
In the wake of the cancellation, the Daily Mail reported that Netflix is now planning to focus on live events rather than pre-recorded shows. The streaming giant has been approached for comment on the cancellation of Celebrity Bear Hunt.
The news is likely to be a disappointment to fans of the show, who enjoyed the unique blend of adventure and celebrity interaction. However, it remains to be seen whether Netflix will reconsider its decision or if the show will be picked up by another broadcaster. As the Daily Mail reported, "yet if it is recommissioned, cuts will 100 per cent be made and this could include talent salaries — both Holly and Bear as well as the celebs. All measures are being explored."
