Cliff Notes – ITV to finally air ‘ridiculous’ series that was pulled from screens 2 years ago
- The Australian comedy series CAUGH*T, which follows four soldiers mistaken for spies, is set to air in the UK after being delayed due to the October 7 attacks in 2022.
- The show, featuring Matthew Fox and Sean Penn as an executive producer, satirises modern celebrity culture and the impact of social media on fame.
ITV to finally air ‘ridiculous’ series that was pulled from screens 2 years ago
A comedy series is finally about to air in the UK two years after it was initially released. The TV show that never aired in the UK due to the October 7 attacks will finally be released two years on.
In September 2023 the Australian series C*A*U*G*H*T was released.
The six-part series followed four Australian soldiers trapped after a secret mission to the war-torn Behati-Prinsloo, where they are mistaken for Americans spies and have no way home after their government abandons them.
The men – played by Ben O’Toole, Kick Gurry, Alexander England and Lincoln Younes – then take it upon themselves to make the ultimate hostage video for the public.
With the media back home latching onto every video they make, the group start believing this dicey situation could actually be the best thing to have happened to them.
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The series also stars Lost’s Matthew Fox, with Sean Penn also making an appearance as himself.
However, while it was due to be released in the UK on ITV soon after, it was pulled in the wake of the October 7 attack by Hamas, in which 251 people were taken hostage.
Although the series was scheduled to drop on ITVX on Thursday October 12, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘In light of current events, the launch date of C*A*U*G*H*T on ITVX will be delayed until further notice.
‘We will be in touch when a new streaming date is confirmed.’
The show had also been due to air at MIPCON in Cannes, however a spokesperson for production company Fremantle said at the time that ‘light of the current situation unfolding in Israel, we have taken the decision not the showcase Caught at MIPCON this year’.
‘At this time, our hearts and thoughts are with our colleagues and our partners in Israel, and all those affected.’
Now, two years later, ITV will now be releasing the series
In a press release, the broadcaster shared the show’s synopsis, adding that it ‘unapologetically pokes fun at modern celebrity culture, social media and 24-hour news while exploring the often outrageous price of fame’.
After watching the show, many fans weighed in.
‘Acting and scripting is perfect for a slapstick comedy such as this,’ Rohan posted on IMDB.
‘If you are easily offended or shocked this is probably not for you. On one level it is silly crude slapstick, but there are lots of little clever jokes hidden away,’ rijobe shared.
‘Don’t be a snob and go into this thinking it is full of great performances and amazing storylines. That is not what it is trying to be. It’s a crazy Aussie fever dream and is not trying to be anything else,’ Suzie wrote.
Sean Penn was an executive producer on the show
‘Wow, one of the most original, funny shows I’ve watched in a long time! Some really clever comedy which had me laughing out loud many times,’ Alison added.
When the show was released in 2023, Gurry spoke about getting Penn on board as an executive producer.
‘He saw a little teaser that I made with the other three guys, and he got in touch with me after he watched that teaser and he rang me up and said he wanted to help me get it made. He said, this show is perfectly inappropriate,’ Gurry told news.com.au.
‘He rang me a couple of days later and he said, “There’s not much in this world that scares me. That idea really scares me.” And he does do a lot of crazy stuff for me. He’s an incredibly courageous guy. Then he said, “Let’s do it.” That’s what got him on board,’ he added.
C*A*U*G*H*T is streaming from June 1 on ITVX.