Fugitive comedians trash talk their pursuers on air

James Acaster and Ed Gamble are taking part in the next series of Celebrity Hunted.

The comics’ involvement was revealed when Gamble was forced to present his regular Radio X show in hiding from an undisclosed location.

While on air, Gamble  repeatedly called the hunters ‘thick’, prompting chief hunter Lisa Theaker to call into the show herself, to tell Ed that he is the worst fugitive we have ever had in the history of the Channel 4 show.

Gamble agreed, but said: ‘We're absolutely terrible, and they’ve still not caught us. So what does that say about the hunters?’

Theaker told Gamble he was holding his fellow fugitive back, to which Acaster agreed, saying: ‘She couldn't be more right… I'd be in Honolulu right now if it wasn’t for Ed.’

The chief hunter added that her team had monitored the pair’s every move, saying they had been to the home of therapists Nik & Eva Speakman – also contestants on the show – and  cryptically asking the comics ‘what were you doing with the vicar and the rabbit?’

‘Do you know what, you're off your head.,’ Gamble replied. ‘You're absolutely off your head, mate.’

Acaster added: ‘I’m sorry guys, but you seem to have a time-waster on your hands, phoning into the show high as a kite’

Theaker also revealed that she had hunters ‘looking after’ Ed’s wife, Charlie, and cat, Pig, which was branded ‘creepy’ by Gamble’s Radio X co-host Matthew Crosby.

But Gamble said: ‘I've seen your hunters, they're a bit too muscley and strong for Charlie. She prefers sort of, quite a weak, doughy man.’

Theaker then threatened ‘your time’s coming to an end fella’.

@channel4's @Hunted_HQ Head Hunter called in to mock Ed Gamble on Sunday, declaring that he is holding fellow fugitive James Acaster back but they haven't been caught...YET! Catch up with @EdGambleComedy and @MatthewCrosby, only on @GlobalPlayer pic.twitter.com/XxnAptNsW3

— Radio X (@RadioX) July 11, 2022

Last week, Gamble and Acaster – who co-host the Off-Menu podcast together – were seen at Shrewsbury Prison as helicopters hovered overhead during filming for the Channel 4 series.

Theaker also taunted them over that, saying:  'You're panicking now though, because you know that it’s true, don’t you? You've had some nice meals as well haven't you? Nice one in Shrewsbury. That was quite smart, actually, at The Walrus. Very nice.'

Gamble replied: ‘To be fair, we did go for a nice meal in Shrewsbury when there was a helicopter chasing us, which wasn't the smartest idea...

The line-up for the fifth series of Celebrity Hunted – part of Channel 4’s Stand Up For Cancer progamming – has not yet officially been revealed

• Ed Gamble and Matthew Crosby are on Radio X on Sundays from 8am to 11am.

Published: 12 Jul 2022