Reggie Yates is set to host new ITV2 show 'Release The Hounds' this year. We spoke to him about what to expect from the show and his role.
Can you tell us a little bit about your new show?
'Release The Hounds' is best described as a horror game show, and it's really fun as we kind of pay tribute to some of the best moments of horror movies that you've seen over the years.
So it starts off with that familiar helicopter shot of a campervan driving through a massive deserted wood, and you've got these teenagers who jump out and you just know this is gonna get worse as soon as things start. Yeah - it's a lot of that.
The contestants responded to an advert to join the show - how did that come about?
I actually don't know.
For me the most exciting thing was having three people who knew nothing about what they were getting themselves into - where they come from as a presenter is not something I know - but when they do get on set they're excited, they're scared and they have no idea what they're in store for, and that's kind of where I come in.
Without revealing too much can you talk us through one of the show's challenges?
No, I can't tell you anything about those challenges but, I think the best way to break it down is if you think of some of your favourite scary moments from some of your favourite horror movies - the feelings you have and those moments of jumping, then laughing at yourself - it's just repeated continuously throughout the show. I jump, and laugh a lot.
How does it differ to other game shows?
In terms of your favourite game shows, people go on, they have a bit of banter and a nice conversation and they're treated really well.
We treat our contestants really badly because we scare them, shock them, we throw things on them and we jump out at them in the dark, so there's lots of things we do that you wouldn't get happening on 'The Price Is Right'.
What is the aim of the game?
Well, the aim of the game is to make it out alive, and that's about it, really. We put people through lots of different challenges and there's a lot of money up for grabs, and a lot of scares along the way. But the most important thing is that they find their way out.
How much prize money is there at stake?
I don't wanna give that away - you're gonna have to watch it to find out.
Where does your role come in as host?
My role is the best role in the world. Basically, I explain the game to the guys and spend the rest of the show laughing at them with you - the audience. It's fantastic having that inside track on what's about to happen to them and also seeing them afterwards.
Can you tell us about the three contestants chosen?
No, in a word! Again, I don't want to give away too much but what I can say is they didn't know a lot about what they were in for, and they're three really, really lovely guys from Essex who are good friends and have known each other for a long time, and that makes for a much better experience.
'Release The Hounds' is a one-off special airing on ITV2 on October 28.
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