ITV has announced a new wildlife crossover format, 'SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters', to mark the 50th anniversary of the film 'Jaws'. The show will feature a group of celebrities confronting their fear of sharks in the Bahamas.
The lineup includes Ade Adepitan, Helen George, Sir Lenny Henry, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch and Rachel Riley. Participants will take part in challenges and come face to face with sharks, with a focus on conservation and appreciating sharks' role in the ecosystem.
This is not ITV's first attempt at such a show. Twenty years ago, for the 30th anniversary of 'Jaws', the network aired 'Celebrity Shark Bait', which was poorly received, with the Manchester Evening News calling it 'the biggest waste of time of them all'.
The new programme aims to improve on its predecessor by highlighting shark conservation, while still offering the celebrity-led jeopardy that the format implies. The unusual title, written in all caps with an exclamation mark, has drawn attention, with some speculating it could lead to a franchise of similar shows.
