Channel4 has commissioned reality competition Scared of the Dark from its Global Format Fund, produced by ITV Studios label MultiStory Media, from an original idea by Possessed.
The format involves eight celebrities entering a completely pitch-black reality space for eight days. It was commissioned for Channel 4 by Tom Beck, Head of Live Events with Phil Harris, Head of Entertainment and Events.
Hosted by Danny Dyer, Scared of The Dark follows the celebrities who are living in The Bunker, a purpose-built living space designed to block out any light and rigged with 50 infrared cameras. Over five successive nights the show will follow the celebrities as they get to grips with living in the dark. To leave The Bunker the celebrities must simply shout “I’m Scared of The Dark” and they are escorted into the light.
To prove their mettle, each of the celebrities will take on a series of challenges designed to test either their primal fear of total darkness or their ability to function in the pitch black. Those that fail at their challenges will have to take on further tasks to save their place on the show. At the end only one will step out into the light as series winner.
The celebrities entering into the dark are retired pro-boxer Nicola Adams, reality star Chloe Burrows, professional boxer Chris Eubank, former professional footballer Paul Gascoigne, singer Max George, comedian Chris McCausland, TV personality Scarlett Moffatt and actress Donna Preston.
Watching over the celebs is clinical psychiatrist Dr. Tharaka Gunarathne who says “one the hardest challenges the celebrities face is dealing with the unknown; their psychological sense of uncertainty is at an all-time high. When you can’t see, your brain fills in the blanks and often imagines the worse. When you switch off the lights your ability to stay safe is suddenly threatened and that is what makes this particularly frightening”
On hosting, Danny Dyer said: “This is possibly one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever done in my career, and I have done a lot of mad things. Throw in a bunch of celebs and make them do things with the lights off – it’s proper good telly. You’re gonna laugh, you’re gonna laugh some more and I promise you’re gonna love it”
Executive Producers on the series are Glenn Hugill, Simone Haywood and Jon Cahn.
Channel 4’s Global Format Fund, the ringfenced spend designed to stimulate the creation of original new formats from UK-based indies for UK and International audiences. ITV Studios will handle global distribution.
Pippa Considine
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