Channel 4.0 has teamed up with Acclaimed Content to create a prank documentary in support of the launch of Ben Wheatley’s zombie drama series Generation Z.
In the 23 minute short, TV celeb Chloe Burrows joins with YouTube prankster Archie Manners to try and trick her mum Louisa into thinking zombies are real.
Burrows employs Louisa to co-present a fake Channel 4 documentary about a worrying human flesh-eating trend. With a cohort of actors in on the gag, including someone who plays a chef mastering in human flesh cookery, Burrows sets out to convince her mum to eat what she thinks is human flesh.
Channel 4’s Cat White, digital commissioning executive, said: “Archie’s mad masterplan was pulled off seamlessly by Chloe in true YouTube caper style. It was a real treat to work with Archie the master pranker. He and Acclaimed Content pulled off something really special in an incredibly short six-week time frame.”
Chloe Burrows added: “It was a tough act to keep the joke going, but to see the reactions and relief on my mum’s face was hilarious. Sorry Mum!”
The one-off short premiered on Channel 4.0 on Monday 28th October at 6pm, following the launch of C4 drama series Generation Z. Generation Z is a darkly comic series set in the fictional town of Dambury, the kind of place with stark opportunities and not much to do. But when an army convoy overturns outside a care home, a chemical leak starts to have an adverse effect on the residents there.
The short was produced by Acclaimed Content with executive producers Anton Inwood and Archie Manners, and commissioned for Channel 4.0 by Cat White, and Evie Buckley, Digital Commissioning Editor & Channel 4.0 Lead.
