Cast Emerges From Isolation, Discovers TV Show Got Cut

After surviving a full year in the harsh Scottish wilderness, the 10 remaining contestants of the reality series Eden emerged from their imposed isolation to discover that no one had been watching their journey. Outside of four one-hour episodes aired in the summer of 2016, the BBC reports that no other footage from the British Channel 4 series has seen the light of day—and the Guardian adds that contestants were never informed of this. The premise of the show, which began filming in March 2016 with 23 cast members, pits humans against the elements in a return to the basics. Without modern tools and technology, the group had to band together to sustain food and shelter in the West Highlands region of Scotland.

Over the course of the year, 13 cast members left the project, though the exact reasons are unclear. Along with as many as four people absconding due to an epic season of Scottish midges, pesky insects that leave irritating bites, the Press and Journal of Aberdeen reports that food in the commune may have been become scarce. One local resident tells the newspaper that after leaving isolation, participants sought care from a dentist for damage sustained after eating chicken feed grit. A Channel 4 spokesperson hasn't confirmed these rumors, but says more episodes of Eden will air eventually. “The story of their time, including the highs and the lows, will be shown later this year.” No set date, however, has been announced. When the first episodes aired, ratings fell from 1.7 million viewers for the first to 800,000 for the last, notes the Telegraph. (More reality TV stories.)