A brand new TV show is coming to Channel 4 – and it could be the most bizarre reality series yet.
In Scared Of The Dark, eight celebrities compete in a pitch-black bunker for eight days to try and win.
Channel Four viewers can track their progress for five consecutive nights as they eat, sleep and perform strenuous tasks, all in the dark.
Like some of the challenges on ITV’s hit I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, the names have a phrase they can shoot to end their ordeal. Not surprisingly, all they have to do is yell “I’m afraid of the dark.”
Ahead of launch, here’s everything you need to know about the strange new reality concept featuring quivering stars in their boots…
What is it?
Scared Of The Dark: A brand new TV show is coming to Channel 4 – and it could be the most bizarre reality series to date
A Channel 5 summary reads: ‘To prove their mettle, each of the celebrities takes on a series of challenges designed to test either their primal fear of total darkness or their ability to function in pitch darkness.
“Those who are not up to their challenges will have to take on gargantuan tasks to maintain their place in the show.
“Each celebrity will be motivated to overcome their fears because in the end only one will emerge as the winner of the series.
“Will the group’s confidence be in the dark form, or will the overwhelming fear of being in the darkness cause them to crumble and beg for the lights to be turned on?”
When is it?
Terrifying: This moment from the trailer shows the contestants trapped in cages in the dark
The first episode of Scared Of The Dark airs Sunday (April 16) at 9pm on Channel 4.
It will then air every night for the next five days, with the finale airing on Thursday (April 20).
Who’s in it?
Challenge: Eight celebrities compete in pitch black space for eight days to try to win the reality show (photo Scarlett Moffatt)
One to watch: The star-studded lineup taking part includes Love Island beauty Chloe Burrows (L) and Max George (R) from The Wanted
Lineup: Actress Donna Preston (L) stars in the show alongside boxer Nicola Adams (R)
The star-studded lineup taking part includes Love Island beauty Chloe Burrows and The Wanted’s Max George.
There’s also Scarlett Moffatt, boxer Nicola Adams, Paul Gascoigne, Chris MacCausland, actress Donna Preston and Chris Eubank.
Nicola revealed that being separated from her son Taylor will be one of the biggest challenges during her performance in Scared Of The Dark.
The boxer, who welcomed her son with the model in July 2022, admitted that since becoming a mother her “entire schedule has revolved around him” but she’s “really enjoying” being a parent for the first time.
Adrenaline show: Paul Gascoigne (L) and Chris MacCausland (R) also star
Not impressed: Chris Eubank was shocked by how much the other celebs swear
When asked how she will manage to be cut off from the outside world, Nicola said, “I’m really going to miss Ella and Taylor while I’m on the show. That will be very difficult.’
Asked why she chose to sign on for the show, Nicola added: “I think because it’s so different, and I was intrigued by the concept of living in the dark for eight days and what that might entail and how it would be to not be able to use my sight.
“I think as people who can see, we rely on eyesight for everything and neglect everything else, so I think it would be interesting to just see what it’s like not having my eyesight and then try my how I will function, how I will make food.
‘How shall I eat? How can I even see what I’m eating? I’m the type of person who eats with my eyes first, so in that sense it will be very strange not to be able to see what I’m eating.’
Who hosts it?
Host: Danny Dyer will host the bizarre new series after he got the gig following his EastEnders departure on Christmas Day last year
Danny Dyer will host the bizarre new series after getting the gig following his EastEnders departure on Christmas Day last year.
The actor, 45, himself admitted that the show is a strange concept.
He said, “This is possibly one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever done in my career, and I’ve done a lot of crazy things.
“Throw in a bunch of celebs and let them do things with the lights off – it’s real good television.”
What can we expect?
Senses: A clip on the trailer appeared to show Gazza crashing into a closet door or lamp
The show is sure to raise eyebrows on Sunday when it launches, as it’s going to be one of TV’s most expletive-laden shows.
Host Danny Dyer and the eight contestants say “f**k” a total of 90 times during the first hour-long episode.
Sandman star Donna drops the F-bomb a whopping 32 times in the first challenge, where she must open a series of doors as a chained man slowly creeps up on her.
Following her with the foul language is Chloe who says “f***” 26 times while Gazza blurts out the swear word 15 times.
Despite not really being in the dark, presenter and former EastEnders actor Danny drops the F-word a total of nine times in the opening show.
However, some stars manage to stay squeaky clean, including ex-boxers Nicola Adams and Chris Eubank and Scarlett Moffatt.
Danny confessed that he couldn’t help but urge the other celebs after hearing ex-world champion Chris was upset by the language.
He admitted, “It was interesting, that swearing, because he was fucking me [for it].
“So I was like, ‘Oh okay, so now I’m really going to encourage every other motherfucker that you can swear'”.
“When everyone came in, they said, ‘F***ing hell,’ and I just saw him cringe.”
Scared Of The Dark, can be seen every night from Sunday, Channel 4, 9pm.