ITV to Air Shark-Themed Reality Show: A Jaws-Inspired Homage
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the influential film Jaws, a momentous occasion that deserves to be commemorated in a lavish way. In honour of this milestone, ITV has announced a new wildlife crossover format, SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, which bears a striking resemblance to a similar show broadcast 20 years ago. The new programme will feature a group of celebrities, including Ade Adepitan, Helen George, Sir Lenny Henry, Ross Noble, Dougie Poynter, Lucy Punch, and Rachel Riley, who will swim with sharks in the Bahamas, a location dubbed the shark capital of the world.
According to a press release, the show’s participants will "confront their greatest fear – sharks" and "push past their limits to come nose to nose with nature’s ‘villains’." The programme appears to have a conservation focus, with the aim of educating viewers about the valuable place sharks hold in the food chain and ecosystem. As the The Guardian reports, "the celebrities will come to appreciate sharks’ valuable place on the food chain and in our ecosystem" (The Guardian).
This is not the first time ITV has attempted to create a shark-themed reality show. In 2005, the network broadcast Celebrity Shark Bait, which saw Richard E Grant and Amy Nuttall being lowered into shark-infested waters. However, the show was met with lukewarm reception, with the Manchester Evening News describing it as "the biggest waste of time of them all". So, why has ITV decided to revisit this concept? One possible explanation is that the network is looking to capitalise on the nostalgia surrounding Jaws, while also attempting to improve upon the original format.
The inclusion of celebrities in the show is clearly an attempt to appeal to a specific audience, particularly those interested in watching Rachel Riley have a panic attack in a swimsuit. However, the conservation focus and aim to educate viewers about sharks may provide a fresh perspective on the format. As The Guardian notes, "there does seem to be more of a conservation focus this time too" (The Guardian).
While the show’s concept may seem silly, and the title may be one of the worst ever seen, SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters has potential. The format’s oddity may even lend itself to a franchise, with potential spin-offs including BEAR! Celebrity Infested Forests or SPIDER! Celebrity Infested Attics. As The Guardian quips, "look me in the eye and tell me that you wouldn’t want to see Peter Andre and Adam Woodyatt star in a series called FISH THAT SWIMS UP YOUR URINE STREAM AND GETS LODGED IN YOUR URETHRA! Celebrity Infested Rivers" (The Guardian).
Ultimately, the success of SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters will depend on its execution and the appeal of its celebrity participants. Nevertheless, as a homage to Jaws and an attempt to educate viewers about sharks, the show has potential. As The Guardian concludes, "Yes, the ITVness of it is the celebrity aspect… but there does seem to be more of a conservation focus this time too" (The Guardian).
