BBC Three to pilot comedy gameshow
BBC Three is to pilot a new comedy format that aims to help highlight issues surrounding disability.
The game show sees celebrity contestants having one or more of their senses or abilities restricted as they undertake various tasks.
The production notes explain: "It's the studio game show that removes the 'sense' or 'ability' from the celebrity contestants. In short, if you have ever wondered what your favourite celebrity looked like dressed as a giant baby playing table tennis with their hands tied behind their back, then this is the show for you."
The show will be hosted by Martin Dougan, a former carpenter born with cerebral palsy. Dougan, who was part of the London 2012 Paralympic Games TV presentation team, has also previously appeared in I'm Spazticus (pictured), the Channel 4 hidden camera show in which disabled performers prank able-bodied members of the public.
The pilot currently has the working title The Totally Senseless Gameshow, but British Comedy Guide understands that a new title is to be agreed soon.
The format is being developed by Roughcut Television, the production company behind Sky1 sitcom Trollied and the creators of the panel show Mad Mad World for ITV. The show will be produced by Gina Lyons, who oversaw the 2013 series of I'm Spazticus.
The trial episode of the new format will be filmed on Friday 21st February at Wimbledon Studios. Producers are boasting the contestants taking part will form "a star-studded line-up from the world of TV, music, sport and showbiz". To apply to be in the audience see our free tickets page
In a Radio Times interview, Martin Dougan revealed how he missed his newborn baby girl's first few days to pursue his presenting dream: "My brother phoned me up one day and said the Paralympics show are advertising for new people to present. At that time my fiancée was pretty heavily pregnant and I said no, I'm not going to do it. But I ended up making a three-minute video that we had to submit and they asked me to go on a five-day bootcamp. The only problem was, on the day I had to go, my baby girl was born at six in the morning and I was on a train at 12 o'clock that afternoon. I went - my fiancée wasn't going to let me waste that opportunity and plus I think she was still high on morphine at the time so she allowed it to happen."