Channel 4 sparks mystery as episode of Dispatches is dramatically pulled at last minute

Channel 4 has pushed back the release of a new episode of Dispatches - sparking wild speculation online.

has been praised for past episodes which have uncovered corruption, exploitation and dark behaviours. The show famously accused actor of sexual assault that aired last year - accusations the star himself has denied.

On Saturday night, the documentary series was due to return to for another special that had been penned for an airing time of 8:10pm. However, just hours before the episode - the contents of which has remained a mystery - was due to air, it was dramatically pulled from the schedule.

The special has been replaced with an episode of documentary series Little Trains & Big Names with Pete Waterman instead - with the new episode of Dispatches now pushed back to air on 2 November. The change in scheduling has driven fans wild with curiosity - with many taking to social media to share their confusion.

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One fan wrote online: "@C4Dispatches it is so suspect that you’ve pulled the program tonight & that it wasn’t indicated what the content was." Another asked: "Does anyone know what the mysterious Channel 4 'Dispatches Special' on the tv guide tonight is about?" A further TV fan noted: "The second time it's been rescheduled. Something is brewing!"

A further fan has speculated that "A last minute legal hurdle" is the reason for the delay in the episode being aired. And another speculated that the new air date could yet change, as they wrote online: "#Dispatches Next Saturday 2 November 8.10pm. @C4Dispatches *subject to change." The has contacted Channel 4 for comment.

Described by Channel 4 as "an ongoing series of investigative and topical documentaries", the broadcaster states: "t covers issues ranging from politics, health and religion to international current affairs and the environment. The first episode on October 30, 1987, featured a report on the black market in weapons grade uranium operated from Khartoum."

The upcoming episode, scheduled to 2 November, is listed only as: "A Dispatches special investigation." A recent episode of the show took aim at popular second hand clothing network Vinted.

The special, titled Vinted's Dirty Laundry: Dispatches, was described by Channel 4 as: "The online secondhand clothes app Vinted is booming. Is its soar-away success too good to be true? Dispatches uncovers the truth behind some of the products sold on the platform."

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