‘Hunted‘ fails to attract audiences

The BBC has confirmed that the BBC One/HBO spy drama ‘Hunted‘ will not be returning for a second series.

The series followed Australian actress Melissa George in the lead role as private security contractor Sam Hunter, alongside a supporting cast including,  Adam Rayner, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Lex Shrapnel, Morven Christie, Patrick Malahide, Stephen Dillane, Stephen Turner and Tom Beard.

The Guardian reports a BBC Spokesperson confirms the axing of the series saying: “It hasn’t found the mainstream audience it was hoped,”

The eight-part series made by ‘Spooks’ producers Kudos Film and Television with HBO Cinemax and written by ‘X-Files’ Alumni, Frank Spotnitz was promoted as a ‘Spooks‘ replacement – even taking a similar slot in the schedules, however, the series struggled to garner an audience as ratings plummeted as the series continued, from an average overnight rating of 4.5 million and a 19.3% share in its October debut to 2.6 million and an 11.2 share for the sixth episode, which aired last Thursday.

The series which focused on Sam trying to discover who was the mole who had attempted to have her killed a year previously, has also received negative comments on social media sites, with many of the viewing audience commenting on wooden acting, poor scripts and Melissa George’s continual pouting, and many also confused by the series plot which was filmed earlier in the year in Morocco, London and Scotland.

This is not the first disappointment for Kudos who is owned by Shine – as their new drama’s ‘Outcasts‘ failed to attract an audience in 2011, resulting in it being moved to a late night Sunday slot; ‘Eternal Law’ was also axed by ITV when it aired to poor ratings earlier in the year.

Another Kudos drama returns to BBC Two tonight: ‘The Hour’ for a second series, which I’m sure producers will be hoping for better success.

.