Digital first prank show Tapped Out is heading to Channel 4 for a celebrity edition: Tapped Out Prank Stars. Harry Pinero will join host Nella Rose as they invite three showbiz faces, rapper ArrDee, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri, and JLS singer Aston Merrygold, to take on cringeworthy challenges watched by a studio audience.
The celebs will be pushed to their limits, with Rose and Pinero throwing chaotic twists into each challenge. The longer they can last before tapping out of the mayhem, the better they’ll do, as the competitor who endures the most time in the embarrassing tasks thrown at them will be crowned champion. The loser will face one final forfeit.
Tapped Out to date has existed as a Channel 4.0 YouTube series, and is regularly cited as a digital first success story by the broadcaster. Host Nella Rose said: “I’m so so proud of the success of Tapped Out and absolutely cannot wait to team up with Harry over on Channel 4 to lay down some of the hardest challenges we’ve ever seen.”
Tapped Out Prank Stars is a 1 x 60 mins special for Channel 4, created and produced by Wall of Entertainment with GroupM Motion Entertainment as co-producers. Tafara Makopa, MD & executive producer, Wall of Entertainment, said: “Tapped Out is one of our strongest formats, and seeing it evolve from digital to television underscores how the digital landscape is transforming TV itself.”
The show was commissioned for Channel 4 by Cimran Shah, commissioning editor for reality & entertainment, and Evie Buckley, digital commissioning editor & Channel 4.0 lead. They said: “Tapped Out has been one of the most boisterous and brave shows on Channel 4.0 with millions viewing across our YouTube and social platforms. It’s so exciting to create an unpredictable all-star edition for Channel 4.”
Tapped Out is an original format developed by Wall of Entertainment and commissioned for Channel 4.0. The three seasons of the raucous windup show to date have featured Nella Rose, Adeola Patronne, Mariam Musa and Chloe Burrows as arch pranksters. Joivan Wade & Percelle Ascott, founders & executive producers, Wall of Entertainment said: “This moment brings us full circle, as Channel 4 first opened the door for us with Mandem on the Wall. Now, with our first commission for their main channel, it really reflects how far we’ve come and the journey we’ve been on.”
The programme was funded by Channel 4 and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Diverse Indies Fund. The Diverse Indies Fund was set up to support small and medium-sized ethnically diverse-owned independent production companies to produce new projects. GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Martin Oxley said: “Tapped Out has continued to set new standards in pranking since it first hit Channel 4.0.”
