DON'T LOOK DOWN: PADDY McGUINESS TO FRONT NEW CELEBRITY TIGHT-ROPE WALKING CHALLENGE

A group of brave celebrities are to take on TV’s scariest challenge show in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

Channel 4 has commissioned South Shore to make Don’t Look Down, an ambitious, large-scale challenge following a cast of famous faces as they attempt to work together to tackle an incredible high wire walk 300 feet above one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

Paddy McGuinness hosts the series alongside leading a team of well-known personalities who will attend a summer training camp in the Austrian Alps, tutored by the world’s foremost experts in high wire walking. There, they will prepare for an unthinkable feat that has never been attempted before, to complete a relay walk, led by Paddy, on a wire looming high over London.

Over six weeks, our celebs will be coached to conquer their fears as they face a series of physically and mentally demanding training exercises and tasks designed to transform them from total beginners to those capable of scaling the heights. It will be an emotional journey as they must encourage each other and work as a team, while also overcoming their individual anxieties.

At the end of training, the group face the challenge of a lifetime - the most nerve-wracking and vertigo-inducing high wire walk imaginable, as they cross a distance of 1,000ft, 300ft feet above London. All they must remember is the key advice: Don’t Look Down!

Paddy McGuinness comments: “I’ve done all kinds of shows, but this is definitely the most nerve racking! I’m so excited to be hosting Don’t Look Down, which is undoubtedly going to be the challenge of a lifetime for everyone involved...

"I can’t wait to get cracking and see whether I can lead the team to find the nerve to take on this ridiculously high and very difficult walk. They’re not going to be in for an easy ride, but it’s all for such a brilliant cause and I hope we raise loads of money for Stand Up To Cancer. I’m now off to practice on the washing line.”

Phil Harris, Head of Entertainment and Live Events at Channel 4, said: “Don’t Look Down is following in Channel 4’s tradition of boundary-pushing reality formats. It’s going to deliver everything from nerves and tears to laughs and camaraderie, cumulating in the most audacious of final stunts...

"We’re thrilled to be working with Paddy again as he hosts the series and leads our celebs in their sky-high challenge, all part of a hugely ambitious year of Stand Up To Cancer. This is event television not to be missed.”

Steven Handley, commissioning editor for Channel 4, said: “This is a challenge unparalleled and our celebs are going to need nerves of steel to overcome their fears and tackle the dizzying heights of Don’t Look Down...

"As someone who is afraid of heights myself, I’m already having anxiety dreams about the challenges involved in our Austrian training camp. I can’t wait to see how the gang work together to complete the terrifying walk and help raise vital funds for Stand Up To Cancer.”

Caroline Davies, Director of Programmes at South Shore, said: “Our super-sized high wire walk has never been attempted before. So we can't wait to see if Paddy and our brave cast of celebrities can overcome their primal fears of heights and complete this enormous challenge, all in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.”

More details will be revealed in due course.