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<\/div>\nGet the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email<\/h3>\nGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\nGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThere\u2019s just no getting around it. When you first read the concept for ITV<\/a>\u2019s Shark<\/a>! Celebrity Infested Waters, it sounds like an idea dredged from the depths of Alan Partridge\u2019s dictaphone, something to be filed away alongside Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank rather than commissioned by a legitimate real-life broadcaster. It\u2019s the final boss of the \u201ccelebrities plus unpleasant task plus farflung location\u201d reality TV<\/a> formula that we\u2019ve seen play out on our screens so many times. The apex predator, if you will. <\/p>\nIn it, a group of seven British stars \u2013 including Lenny Henry<\/a>, Amandaland\u2019s Lucy Punch<\/a> and Call the Midwife stalwart Helen George \u2013 are dispatched to the Bahamas, embarking on a trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world that\u2019s tempered with perhaps the ultimate caveat. While they\u2019re staying on the island of Bimini, they must swim with sharks and eventually learn to love (or, at least, express some mild affection towards) \u201cone of the most feared and persecuted animals on the planet\u201d, as the opening voiceover puts it. <\/p>\nHelping them out with this alarming task are three \u201cworld-renowned shark experts\u201d. There\u2019s shark biologist Dr Tristan Guttridge, marine scientist Danni Washington and army veteran Paul de Gelder, a man who survived a bull shark attack that left him, in his words, \u201chalf cyborg\u201d (he uses a prosthetic arm and leg). <\/p>\n
Since then, de Gelder has made the astounding decision to dedicate the rest of his life to shark conservation. His jaw-dropping story, and apparent total lack of resentment for the species that has irrevocably changed his life, immediately impresses (and, presumably, terrifies) the celebrities. \u201cHe\u2019s like a Jedi,\u201d muses Dougie Poynter from McFly. <\/p>\n
The toothy subject matter gives resident comedians Henry and Ross Noble plenty of easy material to work with. \u201cIf I find out this show is called Britain\u2019s Tastiest Celebrity, I will not be happy,\u201d Noble quips upon arrival. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s very little time for niceties before the celebs are chucked in at the deep end. Moments after meeting the experts, they\u2019re informed that they\u2019re about to be immersed underwater in a metal cage to observe bull sharks (yes, the same type responsible for de Gelder\u2019s injuries) up close.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s safe to say that none of them look particularly thrilled at this development, despite having signed up for exactly this; most admit they expected a bit more preamble before being, well, thrown to the sharks. It\u2019s particularly tough for George, who is scared of the sea but wants to face her fear so that she can swim with her two young children. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the realest thing I\u2019ve ever seen, and I\u2019ve done panto in Lewisham,\u201d Henry jokes as he watches the predators circle and snap. Perhaps this is the ultimate test of a comedy pro: being able to come up with one-liners while immersed underwater and experiencing mild peril. Meanwhile, Paralympian and presenter Ade Adepitan, who is paraplegic, has to navigate entering the cage without the use of his legs. \u201cIt\u2019s all core and arms and shoulders\u2026 But there\u2019s also sharks,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n
\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/07\/11\/8\/08\/shark_celebrity_infested_waters_sr1_ep1_27.jpg\")
<\/p>\nopen image in gallery<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nA group of seven celebrities must face their fears and swim with sharks (ITV)<\/span><\/div>\nAt first, it\u2019s all a bit repetitive, a bit reality by numbers. The voiceover can be grandiose and self-serious (are sharks really \u201cpublic enemy number one\u201d? Don\u2019t we all have other, more pressing things to worry about?), and the stars keep declaring that they\u2019re going to fire their agent as some form of perturbing aquatic creature brushes up against them. Indeed, you are left wondering exactly why they\u2019ve signed up. A fear of sharks is not the sort of phobia that tends to hold you back in everyday life, unlike, say, an extreme dislike of heights or an aversion to flying. <\/p>\n
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Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter <\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThere\u2019s just no getting around it. When you first read the concept for ITV<\/a>\u2019s Shark<\/a>! Celebrity Infested Waters, it sounds like an idea dredged from the depths of Alan Partridge\u2019s dictaphone, something to be filed away alongside Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank rather than commissioned by a legitimate real-life broadcaster. It\u2019s the final boss of the \u201ccelebrities plus unpleasant task plus farflung location\u201d reality TV<\/a> formula that we\u2019ve seen play out on our screens so many times. The apex predator, if you will. <\/p>\nIn it, a group of seven British stars \u2013 including Lenny Henry<\/a>, Amandaland\u2019s Lucy Punch<\/a> and Call the Midwife stalwart Helen George \u2013 are dispatched to the Bahamas, embarking on a trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world that\u2019s tempered with perhaps the ultimate caveat. While they\u2019re staying on the island of Bimini, they must swim with sharks and eventually learn to love (or, at least, express some mild affection towards) \u201cone of the most feared and persecuted animals on the planet\u201d, as the opening voiceover puts it. <\/p>\nHelping them out with this alarming task are three \u201cworld-renowned shark experts\u201d. There\u2019s shark biologist Dr Tristan Guttridge, marine scientist Danni Washington and army veteran Paul de Gelder, a man who survived a bull shark attack that left him, in his words, \u201chalf cyborg\u201d (he uses a prosthetic arm and leg). <\/p>\n
Since then, de Gelder has made the astounding decision to dedicate the rest of his life to shark conservation. His jaw-dropping story, and apparent total lack of resentment for the species that has irrevocably changed his life, immediately impresses (and, presumably, terrifies) the celebrities. \u201cHe\u2019s like a Jedi,\u201d muses Dougie Poynter from McFly. <\/p>\n
The toothy subject matter gives resident comedians Henry and Ross Noble plenty of easy material to work with. \u201cIf I find out this show is called Britain\u2019s Tastiest Celebrity, I will not be happy,\u201d Noble quips upon arrival. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s very little time for niceties before the celebs are chucked in at the deep end. Moments after meeting the experts, they\u2019re informed that they\u2019re about to be immersed underwater in a metal cage to observe bull sharks (yes, the same type responsible for de Gelder\u2019s injuries) up close.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s safe to say that none of them look particularly thrilled at this development, despite having signed up for exactly this; most admit they expected a bit more preamble before being, well, thrown to the sharks. It\u2019s particularly tough for George, who is scared of the sea but wants to face her fear so that she can swim with her two young children. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the realest thing I\u2019ve ever seen, and I\u2019ve done panto in Lewisham,\u201d Henry jokes as he watches the predators circle and snap. Perhaps this is the ultimate test of a comedy pro: being able to come up with one-liners while immersed underwater and experiencing mild peril. Meanwhile, Paralympian and presenter Ade Adepitan, who is paraplegic, has to navigate entering the cage without the use of his legs. \u201cIt\u2019s all core and arms and shoulders\u2026 But there\u2019s also sharks,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nopen image in gallery<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nA group of seven celebrities must face their fears and swim with sharks (ITV)<\/span><\/div>\nAt first, it\u2019s all a bit repetitive, a bit reality by numbers. The voiceover can be grandiose and self-serious (are sharks really \u201cpublic enemy number one\u201d? Don\u2019t we all have other, more pressing things to worry about?), and the stars keep declaring that they\u2019re going to fire their agent as some form of perturbing aquatic creature brushes up against them. Indeed, you are left wondering exactly why they\u2019ve signed up. A fear of sharks is not the sort of phobia that tends to hold you back in everyday life, unlike, say, an extreme dislike of heights or an aversion to flying. <\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/p>\n\nWatch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n
New subscribers only. \u00a38.99\/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThere\u2019s just no getting around it. When you first read the concept for ITV<\/a>\u2019s Shark<\/a>! Celebrity Infested Waters, it sounds like an idea dredged from the depths of Alan Partridge\u2019s dictaphone, something to be filed away alongside Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank rather than commissioned by a legitimate real-life broadcaster. It\u2019s the final boss of the \u201ccelebrities plus unpleasant task plus farflung location\u201d reality TV<\/a> formula that we\u2019ve seen play out on our screens so many times. The apex predator, if you will. <\/p>\n In it, a group of seven British stars \u2013 including Lenny Henry<\/a>, Amandaland\u2019s Lucy Punch<\/a> and Call the Midwife stalwart Helen George \u2013 are dispatched to the Bahamas, embarking on a trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world that\u2019s tempered with perhaps the ultimate caveat. While they\u2019re staying on the island of Bimini, they must swim with sharks and eventually learn to love (or, at least, express some mild affection towards) \u201cone of the most feared and persecuted animals on the planet\u201d, as the opening voiceover puts it. <\/p>\n Helping them out with this alarming task are three \u201cworld-renowned shark experts\u201d. There\u2019s shark biologist Dr Tristan Guttridge, marine scientist Danni Washington and army veteran Paul de Gelder, a man who survived a bull shark attack that left him, in his words, \u201chalf cyborg\u201d (he uses a prosthetic arm and leg). <\/p>\n Since then, de Gelder has made the astounding decision to dedicate the rest of his life to shark conservation. His jaw-dropping story, and apparent total lack of resentment for the species that has irrevocably changed his life, immediately impresses (and, presumably, terrifies) the celebrities. \u201cHe\u2019s like a Jedi,\u201d muses Dougie Poynter from McFly. <\/p>\n The toothy subject matter gives resident comedians Henry and Ross Noble plenty of easy material to work with. \u201cIf I find out this show is called Britain\u2019s Tastiest Celebrity, I will not be happy,\u201d Noble quips upon arrival. <\/p>\n There\u2019s very little time for niceties before the celebs are chucked in at the deep end. Moments after meeting the experts, they\u2019re informed that they\u2019re about to be immersed underwater in a metal cage to observe bull sharks (yes, the same type responsible for de Gelder\u2019s injuries) up close.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to say that none of them look particularly thrilled at this development, despite having signed up for exactly this; most admit they expected a bit more preamble before being, well, thrown to the sharks. It\u2019s particularly tough for George, who is scared of the sea but wants to face her fear so that she can swim with her two young children. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is the realest thing I\u2019ve ever seen, and I\u2019ve done panto in Lewisham,\u201d Henry jokes as he watches the predators circle and snap. Perhaps this is the ultimate test of a comedy pro: being able to come up with one-liners while immersed underwater and experiencing mild peril. Meanwhile, Paralympian and presenter Ade Adepitan, who is paraplegic, has to navigate entering the cage without the use of his legs. \u201cIt\u2019s all core and arms and shoulders\u2026 But there\u2019s also sharks,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n A group of seven celebrities must face their fears and swim with sharks (ITV)<\/span><\/div>\n At first, it\u2019s all a bit repetitive, a bit reality by numbers. The voiceover can be grandiose and self-serious (are sharks really \u201cpublic enemy number one\u201d? Don\u2019t we all have other, more pressing things to worry about?), and the stars keep declaring that they\u2019re going to fire their agent as some form of perturbing aquatic creature brushes up against them. Indeed, you are left wondering exactly why they\u2019ve signed up. A fear of sharks is not the sort of phobia that tends to hold you back in everyday life, unlike, say, an extreme dislike of heights or an aversion to flying. <\/p>\n Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day<\/p>\n New subscribers only. \u00a38.99\/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Lenny](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/07\/11\/8\/41\/shark_celebrity_infested_waters_sr1_ep1_31.jpg\")
<\/p>\n