Two Celebrity Hunted stars forced to leave Channel 4 show immediately

The Celebrity Hunted duo have been booted out after just seven days on the Channel 4 show

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Kimberly Nhundu Under 35s Screen Time reporter

22:05, 17 Aug 2026

[ Ray Howard ]

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Ray Howard and his team are hunting a new group of celebrities in the new season of Celebrity Hunted (Image: Channel 4)

Celebrity Hunted viewers were left baffled as two stars were told to leave the show.

The Channel 4 programme returned earlier this month, challenging a new group of stars to go on the run and stay hidden from expert hunters.

Strictly Come Dancing stars Amy Dowden MBE and Carlos Gu are among the famous fugitives, with EastEnders' Brian Conley and Comedian and his daughter Lucy also on the line-up.

Pursuing them is Ray Howard and his team of hunters who have a mixture of policing, military and intelligence backgrounds. They can use everything from CCTV to helicopters and even search dogs in their hunt for the celebrities.

Just minutes into Monday's (August 17) episode, Stand-up comedian Jen Brister and actor Laura Smyth were booted out of the series after spending the night in a Yorkshire hotel.

[Jen Brister and actor Laura Smyth]

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Jen and Laura were caught while taking an ice cream break (Image: Channel 4)

The duo thought they were safe when they checked out of their hotel, and even decided to buy ice cream during a stroll in the park. But the hunters were lurking nearby and jumped out when they were least expecting it.

Unlike other contestants, Jen and Laura didn't try to run away from and simply accepted defeat. Fans at home were baffled by just how quickly the pair gave up once they spotted the hunters.

One X, formerly Twitter, user said: "That was kind of easy #celebrityhunted," while a second added: "#CelebrityHunted How are you just buying an ice cream cone out in the open of course they caught you."

[Jen Brister and actor Laura Smyth]

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Jen and Laura have been booted out of the challenge (Image: Channel 4)

Others found the scene comical, with one fan sharing: "Wow Jen Brister & Laura Smyth didn't even try to run did they, were they glued to that bench [laughing emojis] #CelebrityHunted."

And a final viewer penned: "The way Jen and Laura were caught was so confusing. They didn't even attempt to escape when the hunters closed in at the park. Did they... want to get caught? #CelebrityHunted."

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This season's line-up also featured Love Island duo an Chris Taylor and Toby Aromolaran, who have already been captured. The series is in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, and airs every Monday at 9pm.

Laura, who was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2021, said: "It's been so fun. 'Cause I'm a breast cancer survivor, I hope any woman or man watching this that's at that point of early diagnosis, which feels so scary, is looking at me, running around the countryside with this legend, and saying: 'There is life after cancer.'"

Celebrity Hunted is available to stream on Channel 4.

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