Hunted is arguably one of probably the most intense actuality exhibits within the UK (a far cry from Bake Off), requiring each bodily stamina and emotional resilience as fugitives evade seize from ex-police and navy professionals for 3 weeks.
No one is aware of that higher than the winner of sequence 8, which concluded on Monday. In an interview with Tech Advisor, they reveal simply what you’ll want to do to keep away from being caught.
Spoilers for Hunted sequence 8 beneath
Shaq’s journey acquired off to a barely rocky begin. Alongside along with his brother-in-law, Warren, the pair managed to interrupt out of Stansted Airport. Nonetheless, they first relied on their very own dwelling community, which meant that Chief Ray and his intelligence group at Hunted HQ had been capable of hint them and piece collectively their subsequent steps.
The pair ultimately left London for Kent, with Floor Hunters scorching on their heels. Whereas Warren was sadly caught, Shaq managed to evade them twice… simply. After that, his complete sport plan modified, and he began to traverse throughout the nation, relying on the kindness of strangers, which finally led him to the most important money prize within the present’s historical past.
Pictured: Shaq Brown (left) and Warren George (proper) stand arms crossed on tarmac at Stansted airport.
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
As he admits to Tech Advisor, “My map is South London. It’s nowhere else. To find a way to journey to totally different components of the UK was superb as a result of it’s like, I’ve by no means been right here earlier than, however it took a TV present to carry me right here.”
Shaq took a while to sit down with me to mirror on what he did proper and has some recommendation for any budding fugitives on the market – if Channel 4 renews it, after all.
“…my abdomen simply turned and it mentioned to me, ‘Do not do that, getting comfy.’”
Don’t let the sport play in your feelings
Yearly, we see Hunted fugitives making the error of visiting household as a result of they miss them or calling mates as a result of they’re afraid to ask for assist from strangers – it occurred a number of instances in sequence 8.
However finally, that’s what will get them caught, because the Hunters can faucet into telephones and social media accounts, and interrogate individuals in native areas that they think contestants are heading to for assist.
Pictured: Ray Howard (entrance) presenting in entrance of Steve Hersee, Georgina Bradley, Giles Sarsah-Abban, Andy Maybury
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
After being cut up from Warren, Shaq mirrored on every little thing that went improper on paper and modified up his ways in an effort to make his actions more durable to observe:
“…you should be keen to push your self out of your consolation zone at factors the place you don’t need to, and in addition once you get turned down by no assist, you retain on pushing.”
Whereas he admits that some strangers weren’t so forthcoming with their assist, others had been eager to muck in – offering transport, meals, new connections and finally a approach to preserve on the transfer earlier than the Hunters even arrive. As he places it: “…it’s like I constructed a household while on the run”.
In truth, Shaq admits that he had no plans to return to his community in London for the remainder of the journey – solely doing so as a result of he needed to accumulate extraction particulars for the ultimate chase: “I’d have by no means gone dwelling.”
However regardless of all that, his household had been finally what saved him going in the course of the robust instances:
“…the nerves kick in the place you begin to speak your self out, however I needed to reaffirm to myself: ‘Shaq, you bought this. Maintain going. Don’t give in’… Like simply being an instance for my son… and even my daughters — when your dad was on this state of affairs, look how he pushed by way of”.
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
Be ready to get bodily uncomfortable
As talked about earlier, Hunted isn’t for the weak. Whereas your mentality have to be rock strong, it’s essential to additionally be ready to tough it – and I don’t simply imply tenting in a area for an evening.
Through the near-miss in Ashford, Shaq managed to cover in a pub kitchen when Hunter Steve got here knocking on the door. In truth, he solely evaded being caught by squeezing right into a small hole by the fridge, actually toes away from his time on the run being over.
What the cameras didn’t present was the ready sport of this transfer, as Shaq reveals. “I used to be simply in that nook for about 45 minutes.” The Hunter hung across the pub, ready for him to reveal himself – requiring some severe persistence. “… this house was so tight. I used to be down on my knees.”
“I used to be simply sitting there, and I couldn’t transfer as a result of the adrenaline, the shock, every little thing was simply speeding by way of my physique.”
Earlier that day, Shaq had additionally had a close to miss by crawling into a bush – a extra frequent tactic from different fugitives. Laying low is typically very literal on this sport, and the Hunters can usually solely wait you out for therefore lengthy.
Past contorting himself into teeny gaps, Shaq additionally acquired some recommendation that basically pushed his boundaries when he was in Wolverhampton and acquired the supply to go to a lifeless drop at Birmingham Library and choose up an additional £10,000, which contestants would get to maintain, even when they had been caught.
It was actually a danger, however after sleeping on it and realising he was so shut to the situation and wouldn’t must depend on public transport, Shaq determined that the positives outweighed the negatives. However to attempt to confuse CCTV, he was suggested by new affiliate (and ex-marine) Duncan to change his look – and never by simply placing on a low cost wig or an enormous hat.
Duncan instructed Shaq: “Disguise in plain sight and have a disguise.’ And I mentioned, ‘What form of disguise?’ He was like, ‘Clear off your beard.’
“I by no means wished to minimize my beard… However I mentioned, ‘You must take dangers’”.
The Hunters barely recognised Shaq on CCTV as he entered Birmingham library, fresh-faced with glasses and a bandana. In the end, he was capable of get in and out and seize a big injection of additional money that he may use for a extra comfy evening’s sleep (plus an opulent and well-deserved journey to the spa) on the Lake District, and funding for taxis when he wanted to.
“I used to be simply sitting there, and I couldn’t transfer as a result of the adrenaline, the shock, every little thing was simply speeding by way of my physique.”
By no means let your self get complacent
If you’re fortunate sufficient to keep away from the Hunters for some time, it’s simple to be lured right into a false sense of safety. Time and time once more, we see fugitives cockily boast that they imagine their whereabouts are high secret, and as such, they’d keep the place they had been. And it’s comprehensible, particularly when dealing with sleep deprivation, bodily challenges and being emotionally drained.
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
After simply profitable £10,000 on the lifeless drop, hightailing it from Birmingham all the best way to the Lake District and staying in a picturesque resort, Shaq may have simply fallen into this frequent lure. However actually, he went in opposition to the grain: “I used to be pumped and every little thing and I mentioned, ‘Yeah, now it’s time for me to go and hit the spa.’
“At that time, once I was strolling to my room, my abdomen simply turned and it mentioned to me, ‘Do not do that, getting comfy.’”
He booked not only one, however two taxis out of the resort underneath a false identify, convincing the receptionist that he was by no means there – and it’s a great factor he did, as Hunter Pembe got here round not lengthy after. Regardless of pretending to be his girlfriend, she wasn’t capable of get any info from the employees, and but once more, Shaq made a detailed getaway.
After that time, he laid low and continued to maneuver, and finally this technique acquired him all the best way to the tip in Folkestone on the Euro Tunnel, being the one fugitive to get to extraction and win the total £100,000. On high of the £10,000 he’d bagged earlier within the present, it’s the most important money prize in Hunted historical past.
So, what’s subsequent for Shaq? Easy, he’s focusing on taking “…a while out to simply sink in… Construct my basis for my household.”
Followers of the present will know that Shaq’s actual ardour is meals, and the prize ought to assist to show these desires right into a actuality. “…we’ve had a jerk seasoning recipe in our household for a really lengthy time… So that shall be coming to the market quickly. The restaurant, that shall be later on, however we’re going to get the jerk season on the market so everybody can style the flavours”.
Whereas he couldn’t share the precise secret to seasoning, he did share this nugget: “You understand, it’s not a recipe, it’s a course of.”
There hasn’t been any official announcement about Hunted being renewed for sequence 9 but. If it does, then you’ll be capable of apply right here. Simply make sure that you’re ready to take on Shaq’s recommendation to the max when you actually need to evade these pesky Hunters and seize £100k for your self.
Hunted sequence 8 (and earlier sequence, together with the celeb editions) can be found to stream on the Channel 4 web site now.
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