**Stars Set to Confront Ocean Fears in New Shark-Diving Celebrity Series**
A bold new television series is sending some of Britain’s best-loved personalities into deep waters—literally. ‘Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters’, an upcoming ITV programme, is poised to challenge seven celebrities to conquer one of nature’s greatest terrors by swimming with sharks in the Bahamas. Scheduled to air in 2025, the show aligns with the 50th anniversary celebrations of ‘Jaws’, the iconic Steven Spielberg film that changed the public’s perception of sharks forever.
Viewers can expect appearances from a broad cross-section of the entertainment world. Among those bracing themselves for this aquatic adventure are actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry, and television presenter and mathematician Rachel Riley, best known for her long-standing role on ‘Countdown’. Joining them are sports presenter Ade Adepitan, ‘Call The Midwife’ actress Helen George, stand-up comedian Ross Noble, McFly bassist Dougie Poynter, and actress Lucy Punch, famed for her work on ‘Amandaland’.
The gripping format takes these self-proclaimed ocean-phobes to Bimini, a Bahamian island renowned for its rich marine biodiversity. There, the group will plunge into waters harbouring between seven and ten species of shark, including the formidable tiger and bull sharks, as well as the great hammerheads and Caribbean reef sharks. ITV has confirmed that alongside their close encounters under the waves, the celebrities will face a series of tasks designed to help them overcome their fears while highlighting the crucial role sharks play in maintaining the balance of the ocean ecosystem.
Behind the scenes, the show is produced by Plimsoll Productions, whose head of factual entertainment, Karen Plumb, described the series as an innovative blend of wildlife conservation education and popular culture. “We’re thrilled to bring a fresh perspective to wildlife storytelling,” she commented. “Fifty years after Jaws, it’s time to recast sharks as vital, fascinating creatures deserving our respect and protection, rather than fear.”
Sir Lenny Henry, now 66, is no stranger to adventurous television, having participated in a wide array of formats—from his eponymous sketch show and sitcoms, to appearing as a contestant on ‘The Masked Singer’ and more recently in fantasy blockbusters such as ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power’. Meanwhile, Rachel Riley, 39, has demonstrated a competitive streak in shows including ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘Richard Osman’s House of Games’, and ‘The Weakest Link’. Off screen, Riley has championed shark and marine conservation through her support for charities like Bite-Back.
Dougie Poynter, known both for his musical success and for winning ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’, is another participant with a strong environmental focus. His book, ‘Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference’, lays out the urgent need to reduce plastic use, and Poynter has openly criticised the exploitation of sharks for their fins on social media.
Helen George described her experience on the series as “one of the most insane” of her life, emphasising the profound impact of learning about sharks alongside her fellow famous faces. This sentiment is echoed by the show’s commissioning editor, Katie Rawcliffe, who believes the collaboration between Plimsoll’s natural history expertise and ITV’s entertainment acumen promises a “once in a lifetime challenge” for the stars involved.
The timing of the show comes as public understanding of sharks undergoes a subtle shift. Graham Buckingham, founder of the shark conservation group Bite-Back, has previously stressed that ‘Jaws’ is a work of fiction, not factual reporting, urging the audience to appreciate the beauty and importance of sharks. Recent statistics from the Natural History Museum note that incidents involving sharks have declined, with 47 “unprovoked attacks” registered globally in 2024—the lowest rate seen in more than thirty years.
With public interest in nature conservation at a high and fears around sharks still prevalent, ‘Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters’ may serve both to entertain and to educate. By putting celebrities in the firing line of their phobias, the show aims to encourage viewers to see sharks not as monsters, but as essential guardians of the marine world—creatures to be protected rather than feared.
As the celebrities prepare to face these misunderstood apex predators, anticipation is swelling for what promises to be one of the most talked-about television events of the year. The hope is that, fifty years after Spielberg’s blockbuster, the narrative around sharks can finally take a positive turn.