Space Cadets fools viewers as 'contestant' revealed as actor

by Ben Bold, Brand Republic 12-Dec-05, 11:00

LONDON - Channel 4's 'Space Cadets', the reality programme aimed at fooling gullible members of the public into believing they are visiting space, is fooling TV viewers into believing that an actor on the show is an electrician.

Ryan McBride, the afro-haired "electrician" from Glasgow, is actually an actor who has appeared in an ad for the National Blood Service, which is currently on TV.

But, while 'Space Cadets' has made no secret of the fact that it used three actors to pose as members of the public, it has made no admission that McBride is a thespian.

This has given rise to speculation as to whether Channel 4 is, in fact, hoaxing viewers and that contestants appearing on the show know that they are not going into space.

McBride's profile on the Channel 4 website says that the Scot "believes in UFOs because there's too much evidence not to". His profile then says he thinks "there are cover-ups at play to hide the truth that's really out there".

Unsurpsingly, the site makes no mention of the apparent cover-up that McBride is really an actor, or hints at the "truth that's really out there".

In the National Blood Service ad, McBride is the fictional donor who celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay thanks for saving his son's life. "If it wasn't for this man, my son would have died from a ruptured spleen," Ramsay says in the commercial.

McBride is then seen sitting in a pub watching a football match on TV, having his distinctive hair ruffled by Ramsay.

The expose of McBride comes as Channel 4 reveals which of the cadets is to "go up into space". The list does not include McBride, who is presumably returning to a life as a jobbing actor/electrician.

The successful cadets are Paul, Keri, Billy and actor Charlie Skelton who has appeared in C4's 'Comedy Lab', written for 'The 11 O'Clock Show' and who co-authored the book 'Once More, with Feeling' with Victoria Coren.

The National Blood Service TV ad was created by creative agency Delaney Lund Knox Warren.

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