Michael McIntyre’s Big Show set to feature the “scariest” Midnight Gameshow yet in new episodes

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Producing a large-scale show is a huge undertaking. James Pratt, the series producer for Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, explains that Michael often says it feels like putting on four different shows at once, with each segment being substantial enough to stand alone as its own program.

Big Show is back for its ninth season, and it’s built around several key elements: elaborate stage designs, a big musical number, pre-filmed videos, and a fun segment where unsuspecting people are playfully tricked into performing on stage for the audience.

According to Pratt, the most important thing when starting a new idea is to focus on its emotional core and ability to make people smile. They always prioritize feeling and connection before worrying about practical details like cost or planning.

Comedian John McIntyre’s show, Midnight Gameshow, is known for its unpredictable surprises. The premise involves McIntyre, acting as a game show host, unexpectedly appearing in a celebrity’s bedroom late at night. This time, Jonathan Ross is the one being surprised.

According to Pratt, when we contact celebrities, their representatives typically confirm details with a family member. Some cases have been unusual – for example, Rob Rinder lives by himself, so we had to get access through his housekeeper.

Rugby player Joe Marler was also surprised during this series. Apparently, it was so frightening that Michael, who was involved, said it was the scariest experience of his life – he even wore a protective scrum cap!

Anyone can be the target of a prank, not just celebrities. A key part of the show, Big Show, features ‘Unexpected Star,’ which was filmed last summer at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sundays, immediately after performances of ‘Hercules the Musical’ ended. The set for ‘Unexpected Star’ is incredibly elaborate, featuring hidden rooms and walls that can quickly disappear.

According to Pratt, their art team is incredibly talented. They quickly identify the ideal person for a role, create the perfect setting, and then build sets – often in just weeks. They’ve previously built everything from salons and police stations to hotels. Pratt describes their ‘prank room’ as being similar to a giant Lego set, allowing them to easily change room sizes, wall designs, and even corridor layouts.

Authors

Jonathan Wells

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2026-01-14 11:36