ITV Sets Premiere Date for Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters Featuring Call the Midwife Star

ITV Sets Air Date for “Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters” Featuring “Call the Midwife” Star

ITV has officially announced the highly anticipated premiere date for its newest reality series, “Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters.” This adrenaline-charged show will make its debut at 9pm on Monday, 14th July on ITV1, with all episodes also dropping as a box set on ITVX the same day. The release has been carefully timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s classic film, Jaws, which first gripped cinema audiences in June 1975.

Star-Studded Cast Faces Shark-Filled Challenges

The unique format brings together seven well-known British personalities, all tasked with swapping the red carpet for wetsuits and coming face-to-face with some of the ocean’s most notorious predators. This season’s line-up includes:

• Helen George (“Call the Midwife”)
• Lucy Punch
• Sir Lenny Henry
• Ross Noble
• Rachel Riley
• Ade Adepitan
• Dougie Poynter

These celebrities will travel to the island of Bimini in the Bahamas, renowned for being home to between seven and ten different shark species. Each episode will see the group undertake thrilling diving challenges with increasingly larger and more dangerous sharks, such as Hammerheads, Bull Sharks, and Tiger Sharks. The programme aims not just to test their courage, but also to raise awareness about the vital role sharks play in marine ecosystems, echoing the sentiment that a world without these misunderstood creatures would be truly terrifying. For more on the cast and production, you can read the full coverage at Entertainment Focus.

Wildlife, Entertainment, and Education Collide

“Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters” is produced by Plimsoll Productions, acclaimed for its contributions to natural history programming, in collaboration with ITV Studios. The show promises both high-stakes entertainment and compelling wildlife storytelling, daring a host of celebrities—many self-admitted ocean-phobics—to overcome their fears. Throughout their journey, viewers will watch the celebrities gain a newfound respect for sharks, highlighting their critical position as apex predators that help keep our oceans in balance. The official series synopsis emphasizes how these first-hand encounters are meant to shift public perception, showing that sharks, often seen as villains, are in fact crucial for ecological health.

For a deeper dive into the behind-the-scenes production and the blend of reality TV with conservation messaging, take a look at the overview on Deadline.

Familiar Faces Going Beyond Their Comfort Zones

The line-up may look familiar to fans of UK television. Helen George, best known for her starring role in “Call the Midwife,” previously put her dancing skills to the test on “Strictly Come Dancing.” Rachel Riley, a mainstay on “Countdown,” competed on the same dance show, while Sir Lenny Henry appeared in the second season of “The Masked Singer.” These new shark-based challenges will push the celebrities’ abilities even further, combining physical daring with emotional growth in a way few entertainment shows attempt.

Honoring the Legacy of “Jaws”

The premiere of “Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters” is taking place in tandem with worldwide retrospectives on “Jaws”, Spielberg’s thriller that first embroidered sharks into popular nightmares. Yet, by seeing real-life celebrities get up close with sharks, ITV aims to foster respect and interest in shark conservation—an evolution of the story that began with one of Hollywood’s most famous man-eaters.

More Entertainment Coverage

For further updates on the biggest stars and upcoming shows like “Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters,” check out the latest entertainment coverage, browse the TV Guide, and explore the Streaming Guide to discover what’s new on air. Listeners interested in celebrity interviews and behind-the-scenes stories can tune into The Radio Times Podcast.

“Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters” premieres 14th July at 9pm on ITV1 and on demand via ITVX—expect as many heart-stopping moments as there are teeth in the water.