Scared of the Dark (TV series)

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Genre
Presented byDanny Dyer
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Scared of the Dark
Genre
Presented byDanny Dyer
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5 [1]
Production
Executive producersSimone Haywood
Jon Cahn
Glenn Hugill
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time59 minutes
Production companiesMultistory Media
Possessed
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release16 April (2023-04-16) 
20 April 2023 (2023-04-20)

Scared of the Dark is a British reality television series broadcast on Channel 4. Presented by Danny Dyer, the series follows eight contestants as they live in complete darkness for eight days. The first series of five episodes aired over five consecutive nights from 16–20 April 2023.

Described as a "world first",[1] eight celebrity contestants spend 180 hours (8 days) living, completing tasks, eating and sleeping in complete darkness in a specially built set.

Danny Dyer presented the show accompanied by clinical psychiatrist, Dr Tharaka Gunarathne, who monitored the contestants and analysed their activities.[2]

In a way compared to the exit strategy of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, the participants could shout "I'm scared of the dark" at any time, to leave a task, or the show.[1]

In a nod to Big Brother's 'Diary Room', the celebrities could chat to a camera in a dimly lit room called 'The Vault'.[2]

Production

Airship hangar at Cardington Airfield

The show was recorded in September 2022, in a specially built set inside an airship hangar at Cardington Airfield, Bedfordshire. The hangar is owned by Cardington Studios and has been used as a set for other films and television shows.[3]

Fifty infra red cameras were installed on the set to film the series.[3]

Contestants underwent mental health screening prior to entering, were monitored by a mental health practitioner during the programme and were offered support afterwards.[4]

Contestants

Eight contestants entered the building:[5]

Celebrity Age on entry Occupation
Nicola Adams 40 Former boxer
Chloe Burrows 27 Former Love Island contestant
Chris Eubank 56 Former super-middleweight boxer
Paul Gascoigne 55 Former England footballer
Max George 34 Lead singer of The Wanted
Chris McCausland 45 Comedian
Scarlett Moffatt 32 Television personality, former Gogglebox star
Donna Preston 36 Actor, writer and comedian

Eubank left the show in episode 4, after having arguments with a number of the other participants and subsequently withdrawing from group activities.[citation needed]

Max George left the show two days before the end (broadcast on 20 April) after dwelling on the memories of his late bandmate, Tom Parker, and declaring "Being in the dark isn’t nice. I’m going to go home today and start fixing a few things".[6]

The final episode on 20 April saw Paul Gascoigne declared winner of the series,[7] following a vote by the remaining celebrities.

Critical reception

References

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