Celebrities to take on reality show in the dark for Channel 4's 'Scared of the Dark'

Celebrities are usually used to being under the spotlight, but a new Channel 4 reality show will challenge them to minimise their time on camera by living in the dark.

Scared of the Dark challenges a group of celebrities to live in a specially-created pitch-black reality space for seven days, leaving questions over what viewers will be able to see.

Read more: Wagatha Christie day six - all the latest developments

It will run as a live TV Big Brother-style social experiment, but the famous contestants won't be able to see each other or any of their surroundings.

Designed to tap into one of our most common fears, the dark, it will include challenges to test the celebrities' ability to tackle their fear of, and ability to function in, complete darkness.

Any celebrity who can't complete their task will risk losing their place on the show as at the end of the week, one contestant steps back into the limelight as series winner.

Phil Harris, head of entertainment and events at Channel 4, said: "Channel 4 has always been home to some of the most outlandish and boundary pushing reality creations that challenge preconceptions through innovative formats and diverse casting, and Scared of the Dark is a commission firmly in that tradition."

Tom Beck, head of live events at Channel 4, added: "Funny, frightening and totally unexpected, this idea really jumped out at us – much like we’ll be jumping out and surprising a load of terrified celebrities.

Read more: Danny Dyer lands Netflix gameshow in post-EastEnders move

"The show promises an enticing mix of reality, entertainment and experiment and I can’t wait to turn the lights off and get started."

As yet, no celebrities have been announced for the show which is still awaiting an air date.

Channel 4 was the original home of now-cancelled reality giant Big Brother before it moved to Channel 5, and has previously aired some unusual shows in the same genre.

In 2004, it aired the series Shattered which challenged contestants to stay awake for the entire run of the week-long series.

The following year, Space Cadets convinced its contestants they were trying to win a place on a space mission, with the "winner" hoaxed into believing their rocket launch simulation was the real thing before being confronted with the disappointing truth that they were actually in a UK aircraft hanger.

Watch: Channel 4 success at TV BAFTAs amid uncertainty over future