Comics join Richard Hammond series

BBC One is joining the fray of hidden camera shows, with the corporation confirming that its contribution to the crowded genre, Richard Hammond’s Secret Service, will air this Christmas.

The hugely original premise is that his team of ‘secret agents’ – aka actors and comedians – trick the public into believing something utterly ridiculous is going on while being secretly filmed.

Pranks over the six-part series including daubing a giant piece of street-art graffiti on the side of someone’s house. Hammond said the series would feature ‘some of the most hilarious and elaborate stunts I have ever seen’.

Comedians taking part include Mike Wozniak, Rachel Parris, Catriona Knox, Steve McNeill and Jacob Edwards of sketch group The Sunday Defensive.

The show, which had previously been announced but without the scheduling or casting details, is the latest in a long list of hidden camera shows.

Channel 4 has two in the pipeline: Public Eye, featuring comics Mark Maier and Barry Castagnola, and a second series of I’m Spazticus, featuring disabled performers. Meanwhile sister channel E4 has The Work Experience, in which interns are filmed coping with outrageous challenges, and recently aired Lee Kern’s Celebrity Bedlam, in which he tricked Z-list celebrities

Dom Joly has just returned to ITV with his prank show Fool Britannia; BBC Three has Impractical Jokers, in which comedians set each other hidden-camera challenges and even the new Loaded TV has commissioned a hidden-camera series called Marshals Law.

Published: 30 Oct 2012