Channel 4 has cancelled reality show The Big Celebrity Detox after only one season.
Celebrities such as Megan Barton-Hanson from Love Island, Martin Roberts from Homes Under The Hammer, Kerry Katona from Atomic Kitten, and British aristocracy Princess Olga Romanov sought extreme detox therapies on the E4 show.
At one point, the stars drank their pee and were instructed to digest seeds, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhoea. They also had to stand naked in front of mirrors placed throughout the forest to completely embrace themselves for who they are.
During the eight episodes that aired in May of last year, fans experienced numerous heartbreaking moments, such as Chloe Veitch openly revealing her bisexuality for the first time and Kerry expressing her worries of dying.
Although a TV insider stated that executives were ‘proud’ of the ‘jaw-dropping and horrible television’, they believed it was better as a ‘one-off’.
‘Viewers might forget the show but for the cast they won’t anytime soon,’ they concluded to The Sun.
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘Channel 4, like all broadcasters, makes decisions in the natural cycle of programming about which shows to rest, return or conclude to ensure we always innovate and offer viewers the best range of content.’
The broadcaster has lately made bold moves to cancel some of its shows, including Rise and Fall, Question of Sport, and Steph’s Packed Lunch. The axe list now includes The Big Interiors Battle, The Big Narstie Show, Scared Of The Dark, Rescue: Extreme Medics, and The Big Blow Out.
Channel 4 revealed intentions to change course earlier this week, outlining an ambitious five-year plan to become a digital-first public service broadcaster by 2030.
‘The strategy – called Fast Forward – will ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift that is taking place in TV viewing, to elevate its impact across the UK and stand out in a world of global entertainment conglomerates and social media giants,’ their statement read.
As part of the plan, they will have ‘fewer, stronger new titles that generate more scale and impact’, increase YouTube content, and ‘reduce headcount by 18%’ which will mean around 200 redundancies and the closure of around 40 unfilled roles.
‘Channel 4 was designed to be ahead of the curve and has never stood still. The rate of change in our market is only speeding up. Our new strategy will accelerate our digital transformation,’ explained Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon.
The Big Celebrity Detox is available to watch on Channel 4.