Danny Dyer has revealed he wanted to take a year off after quitting EastEnders but couldn’t resist the offer of hosting Channel 4 ’s fun new reality show, Scared of the Dark.
In it, eight celebrities must live without any light for up to 180 hours while also completing challenges to win treats.
Branding it “f***ing hilarious”, Danny explained: “They said, ‘Basically, we’re going to lock eight celebrities in the pitch black for eight days’ and I was like, ‘Sign me up!’
“It depended on the celebrities for me as well. I wanted it to be interesting people. One of my heroes of all-time is Paul Gascoigne, so as soon as I heard his name I was like, ‘This is amazing’.”
Football legend Gazza will be joined by former boxing world champions Chris Eubank and Nicola Adams, ex-Gogglebox favourite Scarlett Moffatt, blind comedian Chris McCausland, Sandman actress Donna Preston, Love Island contestant Chloe Burrows and pop star Max George.
Viewers can see the action thanks to infrared cameras but the celebs inside can see nothing at all, leading to plenty of bumps and scrapes.
Danny said: “I laughed so hard at some of it, like really belly-laughed.
“But I also cried. There’s some stuff in there that’s really, really touching. I think if it can make you laugh and cry at the same time, within the same piece of work, you’re on to a winner.”
The celebs’ reactions range from Chloe being terrified of the dark to Chris Eubank trying to maintain his alpha male persona despite being unable to function normally.
McCausland quickly emerges as a hero because his blindness becomes a superpower in the dark, allowing him to find his way around far better than the rest of the group.
Danny, 45, said his idea to take a career break after quitting the BBC1 soap last year was scuppered when he was inundated with offers.
He explained: “It has been jobs that I just can’t turn down because they’re so exciting.
“But I think you’ve got to be brave and start saying ‘no’ to stuff for a bit.
“I need time off, just to decompress, maybe towards the end of the year – because I do love my family and need to be around them more.”
Danny is currently filming alongside David Tennant on Disney’s major new adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s 1988 bonkbuster book Rivals, for which he has taken on a whole new look.
“If there was ever an ideal job for me to be doing, it’s Rivals,” he laughed. “I love the 1980s, this is my period. I’m working with really brilliant people who have just made me raise my game.
“It’s a beautiful gig for me and I needed a different look. I’ve always looked the same, so this moustache is decent and it’s all mine!”
He has also made a travelogue around Italy with daughter Dani, 26, and a documentary about toxic masculinity called 21st Century Man.
“I’ve got everything coming out at the same time, which is a bit weird. I wish it was spread out a little more but I can’t complain.
“I’m very grateful.”
Despite loving the five-part Scared of the Dark, Danny says there’s no way he’ll be signing up for any reality shows himself, saying: “I’ve got no interest in that sort of stuff.”
