Scared of the Dark: 'Celebrity Big Brother with the lights off' say viewers

Reality series Scared Of The Dark is just Celebrity Big Brother by another name, according to viewers.

Danny Dyer hosts the new new Channel 4 show which sees contestants including former footballer Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne, Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt, boxer Chris Eubank and former Love Island contestant Chloe Burrows living together in a pitch black bunker for eight days.

Viewers tuning in to the first episode of the show had mixed opinions on "marmite" host Dyer, the psychological concept of the series and whether it was entertaining to watch.

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But many agreed watching a group of celebrities living together through night-vision cameras felt rather familiar.

One tweeted: "This is Big Brother in the dark….. I love it #ScaredOfTheDark"

Another commented: "It’s celebrity big brother during a cost of living crisis #ScaredOfTheDark"

And another said: "So #ScaredOfTheDark is essentially I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of the Dark in the Big Brother house?"

One viewer wrote: "Watching #ScaredOfTheDark it's Celebrity Big Brother in a Tiny Bunker in the pitch black!"

Another posted: "Very much enjoying what’s essentially Celebrity Big Brother in the Dark. #ScaredOfTheDark"

Former EastEnders star Dyer divided opinion as a host - with fans loving his sense of humour as he watched the celebrities takes on challenges, while others felt he was stealing the spotlight.

One said: "Yeah, #ScaredoftheDark is just Big Brother with the lights off, but it's also The Danny Dyer show and is mainly going to be him laughing his arse off at the antics and mishaps."

Another said: "Danny Dyer’s the perfect choice for host too. He’s been great so far."

But another tweeted: "A half decent reality show totally ruined by Danny Dyer. Please try and edit him out for the rest of the week."

The opening episode saw Chris Eubank alienate some of his housemates with his strong opinions and strict temper.

He reprimanded Gascoigne for confessing he had been aroused when he met late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and told people off for swearing.

One said: "I don't like the dark at all but I gotta say, I think my biggest issue in there would be Chris Eubank."

Another tweeted: "Watched #ScaredOfTheDark last night ..I’m sorry but I’d be doing time if they put me in there with Chris Eubank…who does he think he is eh telling everyone not to swear."

But another posted: "Nice to see that Chris Eubank is still the same annoying person he was when he was in Big Brother. A rather odd idea for a show, but let's see...or not as the case may be."

Burrows' strong emotional reaction to her fear of the dark was a hit with viewers and Moffatt was sent into the bunker in secret and challenged with living there unnoticed alongside her fellow roommates.

Both Burrows and Gascoigne suffered panic attacks during the first episode - prompting some to question the ethics of the show.

One said: "Love the concept but as someone who's learned to (more or less) control anxiety over the last 15 years or so, this is traumatic watching her basically have a panic attack. I can breathe thru it but should they really test phobias quite so literally?!"

Another tweeted: "Danny feels 'slightly bad' about someone having a panic attack, proving we've learned nothing about mental wellbeing since BB."

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Many viewers were perplexed as to why some of the celebrities chose to wear sleeping masks in bed - when they were living in pitch darkness.

Scared of the Dark continues at 9pm on Channel 4 until Thursday, 20 April.

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