Do you squeal at a tiny spider or shiver at the thought of getting into a lift? Or perhaps you hide around the corner when balloons are being blown up at a birthday party, or shut your eyes tightly when a needle appears in the doctor’s office?
Whatever it may be, now is the time to finally face your fear, as there’s a brand-new TV show on the horizon that’s giving Brits the opportunity to get rid of their phobias for good and potentially change their lives for the better.
Channel 4 is currently casting for the upcoming documentary series — the name is yet to be announced — which will follow contestants with severe phobias as they embark on undergoing a groundbreaking new psychological treatment based on extensive research.
As reported by The Hoot, to take part, you just have to be living in the UK, over the age of 18 and have a phobia you’d like to cure.
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Even were considering applying to be honest — and, yes, it’s clowns.
A description for the new series: “Do you suffer from an overwhelming phobia? Is your phobia stopping you from seeing friends and family, or living life to the full? Are you ready to try and beat it?
“Whether it’s spiders, heights, snakes, cockroaches, open water, balloons, needles, elevators, or something else, a new Channel 4 documentary will follow people as they try a groundbreaking psychological therapy based on cutting-edge research.”
Feeling brave enough then? If this sounds like a show you’d be keen to take part in, then you can apply by filling out a short questionnaire HERE.
There’s a lot of TV stuff going on around Manchester at the minute too, as a local cafe in Bury has recently been chosen as the set for a new Netflix show.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
Call yourself a clever clogs? The BBC is currently looking for contestants to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That’s right – Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show – which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is – knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed ‘vitally important’.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Greater Manchester encouraged to apply.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’ / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: “The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
“Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
“This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Clementine Hall -
31st July 2023 
