Saturday night television just got a major shake-up with the arrival of ITV’s Celebrity Sabotage, a riotous new entertainment series that takes the familiar reality TV format and flips it on its head. Premiering on March 21, 2026, at 8pm, the six-part show has quickly become the talk of the town, thanks to its mischievous premise and a star-studded cast determined to keep both viewers and contestants on their toes.
The core of Celebrity Sabotage is simple, but devilishly clever: unsuspecting members of the public believe they’re competing in brand-new ITV reality competitions, each hosted by a famous face. But in a twist worthy of a heist movie, the real show is happening behind the scenes. A team of celebrity saboteurs—Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Sam Thompson, and social media sensation GK Barry—watches from a secret “Mission HQ,” plotting to disrupt the contestants’ every move. Their goal? Cause as much chaos as possible, all while remaining undetected. If they succeed, money is added to a prize pot that can reach up to £30,000, ultimately shared among the blissfully unaware contestants.
Each episode introduces a fresh fake reality show, complete with elaborate sets and high-profile hosts like Sara Davies, Emma Willis, Matt Willis, and Clare Balding. These hosts are in on the ruse, helping to sell the illusion and, occasionally, even aiding the saboteurs in their covert missions. According to ITV, the fake shows range from business challenges and cooking contests to relationship tests and even murder mystery games, ensuring that the contestants—and the audience—never quite know what’s coming next.
The opening episode set the tone for the series, with Sara Davies hosting The Applicant, a faux business competition. Contestants faced a gauntlet of bizarre challenges, including sabotaged wedding video shoots, mysteriously deleted footage, and a wellness activity that devolved into a green-colored disaster. Adding to the mayhem, guest saboteur Jo Brand joined the core team in their secret lair, accessed via a hidden bookcase lever—just one of many high-tech touches that make the show feel like a playful spy caper.
Joel Dommett, one of the show’s lead saboteurs and a familiar face from The Masked Singer, described the experience as “absolute madness.” He told ITV, “This show is absolute madness. Turns out making a new fake reality TV show every week and secretly sabotaging the real contestants to win them money is REALLY FUN! It’s honestly the most I’ve laughed in ages. Such a lovely bunch of fellow saboteurs too—Sam, GK, Judi and me made some mischief that needs to be seen to be believed.”
Judi Love, another key saboteur and a regular on Loose Women, echoed Dommett’s enthusiasm: “I haven’t laughed this much in a while!” Meanwhile, Sam Thompson, the I’m A Celeb winner, summed up the scale of the operation, saying, “Filming this show was like a military operation.” The saboteurs’ camaraderie and genuine delight in their roles shine through, even as they don outrageous disguises—hay bales, bushes, cupids, and more—to avoid detection.
Perhaps the breakout star of the series is GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Keeling. At just 26, Barry has already built an impressive career, starting with viral TikTok videos filmed in her university bedroom. Her podcast, Saving Grace, has featured high-profile guests like Alison Hammond, Zara Larsson, and Madison Beer, and her stint on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2024 brought her national attention. With 4.1 million TikTok followers and 1.3 million on Instagram, Barry’s social media savvy adds a fresh energy to the saboteur squad.
Barry’s enthusiasm for Celebrity Sabotage is palpable. “This show is iconic. You get two shows for the price of one! It has everything you want in a new entertainment show—high stakes, high drama and LOTS of laughs. And we get to win members of the public money. What’s not to love? I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” she said, as reported by ITV. On This Morning, she joked about the control the saboteurs wield: “I was loving it, I was like let’s hope they cry.” However, she admitted to feeling a pang of guilt when contestants shared heartfelt stories about their motivations, only to have their dreams hilariously derailed by a saboteur in disguise. “They’ve trained their whole lives for this and we’ve sat there dressed as a bush, and ruined their day,” she quipped.
Despite the chaos and pranks, Celebrity Sabotage isn’t just about laughs. The show’s most surprising moments come during the final reveals, when contestants—who had no idea they were playing for cash—are told they’ve won thousands of pounds. The emotional impact is real, with both players and celebrities often moved by the outcome. As Sam Thompson put it, the show blends “fun, suspense, twists, turns and heartfelt moments” into one unforgettable package.
The series is also notable for its rotating roster of celebrity guests, each bringing their own flavor to the sabotage. Alongside Jo Brand, upcoming episodes will feature Jill Scott MBE, Fay Ripley, Olivia Attwood, Guz Khan, and Harry Redknapp. The fake hosts—Clare Balding, Matt and Emma Willis, Monica Galetti, Jason Fox, Sara Davies, and Rylan Clark—lend further credibility to the ruse, helping to keep contestants in the dark until the very end.
ITV’s official statement summed up the show’s unique appeal: “In each episode a fresh set of unsuspecting contestants will arrive, believing they’re participating in a brand-new ITV show. These range from cooking challenges and relationship tests to business tasks and even murder mystery games. Little do they know that these shows are completely made up! To make it even more convincing, these fake shows will have believable hosts, including familiar faces such as Clare Balding, Matt and Emma Willis, Monica Galetti, Jason Fox, Sara Davies and Rylan Clark. Everyone involved, from the celebrity saboteurs and the crew to the famous hosts, is in on the secret.”
For those eager to tune in, Celebrity Sabotage airs every Saturday night for six weeks at 8pm on ITV1, STV, STV Player, and ITVX, following Britain’s Got Talent in the schedule. With its blend of high-concept pranks, celebrity mischief, and genuine emotional payoffs, the show promises to keep viewers guessing—and laughing—all season long.
As reality TV continues to evolve, Celebrity Sabotage feels like a breath of fresh air: unpredictable, heartfelt, and just a little bit wild. And if the first episode is any indication, the best may be yet to come.