Hunted is arguably one of probably the most intense actuality reveals 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 person is aware of that higher than the winner of collection 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 collection 8 beneath
Shaq’s journey received off to a barely rocky begin. Alongside along with his brother-in-law, Warren, the pair managed to interrupt out of Stansted Airport. Nevertheless, they first relied on their very own residence community, which meant that Chief Ray and his intelligence staff at Hunted HQ have been capable of hint them and piece collectively their subsequent steps.
The pair ultimately left London for Kent, with Floor Hunters sizzling on their heels. Whereas Warren was sadly caught, Shaq managed to evade them twice… simply. After that, his whole sport plan modified, and he began to traverse throughout the nation, relying on the kindness of strangers, which in the end led him to the largest 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 elements of the UK was superb as a result of it’s like, I’ve by no means been right here earlier than, nevertheless 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 stated to me, ‘Do not do that, getting snug.’”
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 pals as a result of they’re afraid to ask for assist from strangers – it occurred a number of occasions in collection 8.
However in the end, that’s what will get them caught, because the Hunters can faucet into telephones and social media accounts, and interrogate folks in native areas that they believe contestants are heading to for help.
Pictured: Ray Howard (entrance) presenting in entrance of Steve Hersee, Georgina Bradley, Giles Sarsah-Abban, Andy Maybury
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
After being break up from Warren, Shaq mirrored on all the things that went fallacious on paper and modified up his ways with the intention to make his actions more durable to observe:
“…you must be prepared to push your self out of your consolation zone at factors the place you don’t need to, and in addition whenever 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 have been eager to muck in – offering transport, meals, new connections and in the end a method to hold on the transfer earlier than the Hunters even arrive. As he places it: “…it’s like I constructed a household while on the run”.
The truth is, 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 acquire extraction particulars for the ultimate chase: “I might have by no means gone residence.”
However regardless of all that, his household have been in the end what stored him going in the course of the robust occasions:
“…the nerves kick in the place you begin to discuss 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 via”.
Channel 4/Endemol Shine
Be ready to get bodily uncomfortable
As talked about earlier, Hunted is just not for the weak. Whereas your mentality should be rock strong, you should additionally be ready to tough it – and I don’t simply imply tenting in a subject for an evening.
Throughout the near-miss in Ashford, Shaq managed to cover in a pub kitchen when Hunter Steve got here knocking on the door. The truth is, 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 critical endurance. “… this area 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, all the things was simply speeding via 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 usually 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 received some recommendation that basically pushed his boundaries when he was in Wolverhampton and acquired the supply to go to a useless drop at Birmingham Library and choose up an additional £10,000, which contestants would get to maintain, even when they have been caught.
It was actually a threat, however after sleeping on it and realising he was so shut to the placement 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 a giant hat.
Duncan advised Shaq: “Conceal in plain sight and have a disguise.’ And I stated, ‘What type of disguise?’ He was like, ‘Clear off your beard.’
“I by no means wished to reduce my beard… However I stated, ‘It’s a must to 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 further money that he may use for a extra snug night time’s sleep (plus an expensive 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, all the things was simply speeding via 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 consider their whereabouts are prime secret, and as such, they’d keep the place they have been. And it’s comprehensible, particularly when dealing with sleep deprivation, bodily challenges and being emotionally drained.
After simply profitable £10,000 on the useless drop, hightailing it from Birmingham all the way in which to the Lake District and staying in a picturesque lodge, Shaq may have simply fallen into this frequent entice. However in truth, he went in opposition to the grain: “I used to be pumped and all the things and I stated, ‘Yeah, now it’s time for me to go and hit the spa.’
“At that time, after I was strolling to my room, my abdomen simply turned and it stated to me, ‘Do not do that, getting snug.’”
He booked not only one, however two taxis out of the lodge underneath a false title, convincing the receptionist that he was by no means there – and it’s a superb 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 in the end this technique received him all the way in which to the top in Folkestone on the Euro Tunnel, being the one fugitive to get to extraction and win the complete £100,000. On prime of the £10,000 he’d bagged earlier within the present, it’s the largest 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 goals 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 collection 9 but. If it does, then you’ll be capable of apply right here. Simply be certain that you’re ready to take on Shaq’s recommendation to the max for those who actually need to evade these pesky Hunters and seize £100k for your self.
Hunted collection 8 (and earlier collection, together with the celeb editions) can be found to stream on the Channel 4 web site now.
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