Man Versus Beast (lost unaired ITV adaptation of Fox reality show; 2003)

From The Lost Media Wiki
Revision as of 13:10, 19 July 2024 by SpaceManiac888 (talk | contribs) (One of the most ludicrous ideas for a show... which ITV took from Fox! Naturally, the animal rights groups were up in arms about the programme and demanded its cancellation. Whether it did air is somewhat unclear... during my research via British Newspaper Archive, I found a few listings of Man Versus Beast on ITV2 in December 2003, a month following the show reportedly being dropped. It's possible that it did get broadcast but fell into obscurity ever since. More than meets the eye, this one.)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
Merch
Discord
Patreon
Forums
Manversusbeast1.png

Man Versus Beast logo.

Status: Lost

Man Versus Beast was an ITV reality show produced by Granada Television. An adaptation of a controversial Fox special, the show pitted humans against exotic animals in a series of physical challenges. Presented by former professional footballer and Gladiators host John Fashanu, the programme was pulled from airing on ITV1 following backlash from animal rights groups and supposed scheduling issues.

Background

On 15th January 2003, Fox aired the first of its two Man vs. Beast specials.[1] The programme featured six different physical challenges between humans and animals.[1] These included an eating contest between a Kodiak Bear and a competitive speed eater; sprinter Shawn Crawford running against a giraffe and a zebra; and, in perhaps the most infamous segment, 44 vertically challenged individuals faced an Asian elephant to determine who could pull a DC-10 the fastest.[2][3][1] Unsurprisingly, the special faced extensive criticism from animal rights groups,[4] who lambasted it as "the sickest TV show ever".[5] It failed to please critics either, with Jim Kershner of The Spokesman-Review declaring that reality television had consequently hit a new low.[6] A 2017 article by The Telegraph also noted the show's dangerous nature, having remarked that the Asian elephant looked in intense discomfort during the DC-10 challenge.[2] Despite the criticism, the special attracted 9.3 million viewers with a large share of the 18-34 demographic.[5] Fox subsequently commissioned a second special that was broadcast on 20th February 2004.[5]

Sensing the concept's potential viability across the pond, ITV announced in May 2003 that it had commissioned Granada Television to produce a British spin-off.[7] Granada had recently helped establish I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, a survival reality show that had faced similar criticism for its treatment of live creatures.[8][9] While some sources retrospectively claimed the show would be aired in six parts,[10][2] this did not appear to be the case. Based on Daily Mail and Newsround articles, Granada's actual plan was to produce a one-hour special airing in Autumn 2003.[11][7] Providing it captured the public's imagination, a full series would be commissioned.[11]

In June 2003, it was reported that John Fashanu would become the show's host.[12] Before entering a career in television, Fashanu played as a centre-forward in First Division football. His biggest success occurred during his stint at Wimbledon from 1986 to 1994, being among the "Crazy Gang" who lifted the 1988 FA Cup.[13] His foray into television began by hosting Gladiators from Series 1-5 and Series 8.[14] Following this, an appearance on I'm A Celebrity reportedly helped rejuvenate Fashanu's career.[15][9] After landing the Man Versus Beast gig, Fashanu went all-in on the concept, having reportedly bragged that the show would be "enormous" and could even outdraw Gladiators.[11][15] Fashanu subsequently invited sprinter Linford Christie and boxer Frank Bruno to appear on the show.[16][11] One name confirmed for the special was model and fellow I'm a Celebrity contestant Catalina Guirado, who would compete in an agility test against a panther.[11][4][16] Guirado was additionally in negotiations to become the show's co-host.[11]

Another confirmed segment saw Fashanu challenge a crocodile in a staring contest.[17][4] Available photographs show Fashanu and the crocodile lying on benches, face to face with one another.[18] Despite his best efforts, Fashanu lost the challenge after a minute when his tears forced him to blink.[17] A third known contest pitted three-time Britain's Strongest Man winner Glenn Ross in a pushing match against an elephant.[19][20] Though it is unknown who won, Ross can be notably seen holding a commanding lead against the elephant.[19] During filming, two elephants were present, with one most likely being a reserve in case the other refused.[21] The programme additionally recycled some stunts from the original Fox special.[22] These included the hot dog challenge between a man and a bear, as well as a tug of war pitting a strong man versus an orangutan.[4]

Controversy and Cancellation

Filming began in June 2003.[11] Despite Fashanu's enthusiasm, critics were notably less impressed.[23][16] Kevin Mitchell and Jamie Jackson of The Guardian believed Man Versus Beast was a step down in Fashanu's television career compared to Gladiators.[23] Meanwhile, Teeside Live suggested the show reached a new low for British reality television.[16] But this criticism paled in comparison to the universal condemnation from animal rights organisations.[4][22][9][11][15] Campaign director for Animal Defenders Tim Philipps lambasted the usage of vulnerable and endangered creatures for entertainment purposes, stating "Animals used in the (entertainment) industry are subjected to suffering. These shows do not have any place in modern society, we should be teaching respect".[9] The announcement of Man Versus Beast led a coalition of fourteen animal rights groups to protest and investigate the show.[4] Among them included the Born Free Foundation, the Captive Animals' Protection Society, and the RSPCA.[4][22][9] The RSPCA had recently investigated numerous reports that some viewers had re-enacted I'm a Celebrity scenes involving live creatures.[9]

Granada and ITV wrote to Born Free on 3rd July 2003 amid the protests. The companies defended the programme, insisting the creatures "are only doing things they would naturally be predisposed to do".[4] Granada claimed that the animals' welfare was secured thanks to the presence of handlers, vets and an independent regulator.[11][16] Research from the RSPCA and Born Free later revealed that Amazing Animals were contracted to provide animals for the show, as they had done so for various other film and television projects.[4] The veterinary organisation contracted was the Independent Zoo Veterinary Group, which, as it turned out, worked for Amazing Animals based on the latter's website.[4] The findings did little to placate the animal rights coalition; Born Free subsequently launched a petition to stop ITV from airing the programme.[4] Captive Animals also encouraged the public to contact both Granada and the Independent Television Commission to request that the special be aborted.[22]

Some high-profile celebrities also backed the protests, with actresses Dame Judi Dench, Virginia McKenna and Jenny Seagrove all expressing how "horrified" they were with the programme's concept.[15][4] Despite all this, ITV announced Man Versus Beast would premiere at 6pm on 1st November 2003 on ITV1.[24][15] But two days before the planned broadcast, ITV confirmed that the special would be replaced by Best Ever Magic Tricks and pulled from the schedule entirely.[25][26][15][3] Initially, Captive Animals and fellow coalition members assumed their protests caused the special's cancellation.[24][26] However, an ITV spokeswoman defended the show's treatment of animals and insisted Man Versus Beast was merely postponed due to scheduling issues.[26][15][3] Strangely, a Granada spokesman claimed Man Versus Beast had never been planned for 1st November, despite the programme appearing on television listings for that date.[26]

Though Captive Animals remained "cautiously optimistic" regarding the programme's fate,[24] it appears ITV still had every intention of airing it. In television listings provided by the likes of Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian and Sunday World (Dublin), the programme was reportedly broadcast three times on ITV2.[27][28][29] This included 8:45 pm on 14th December;[27] 6:05 pm on 17th December;[28] and 6:05 pm on 21st December.[29] However, no contemporary sources verified whether the special ultimately did air. As a result, The Guardian, The Telegraph and UK Game Shows all state Man Versus Beast was cancelled entirely.[30][10][2]

Availability

Outside of the aforementioned December television listings,[29] there appears to be no indication that Man Versus Beast ever aired. It likely does still exist within Granada or ITV's archives,[30] but no footage is currently publicly available. A search of the British Film Institute yielded little aside from a brief programme synopsis.[31] Some behind-the-scenes photographs were published by Shutterstock, including of the crocodile staring and elephant pushing challenges.[32] But because of how much time has passed, combined with an ever-raging debate over the ethics of animals used for entertainment,[33] it is unlikely the programme will resurface.

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 SLAMonline overview of the first Man vs. Beast special. Retrieved 19th July '24
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Archived The Telegraph providing a 2017 look at the Fox specials. Retrieved 19th July '24
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 BBC News reporting on ITV dropping Man Versus Beast before it aired a single episode. Retrieved 19th July '24
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Archived Born Free Foundation announcing it had a launched a petition to prevent Man Versus Beast from being aired on television. Retrieved 19th July '24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Digital Spy reporting on Fox's plans to air a second special despite backlash from animal rights groups. Retrieved 19th July '24
  6. ↑ 18th January 2003 issue of The Spokesman-Review reviewing the first Man Vs. Beast special (found on Google Newspapers, p.g. 25). Retrieved 19th July '24
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Newsround reporting on ITV commissioning Man Versus Beast. Retrieved 19th July '24
  8. ↑ The Guardian noting Granada's extensive involvement in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Retrieved 19th July '24
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 12th June 2003 issue of The Stage reporting on animal rights groups protesting against the airing of Man Versus Beast, with Granada having also faced criticism for its treatment of live creatives on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (found on British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 3). Retrieved 19th July '24
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Guardian summarising Man Versus Beast and claiming it was intended as a six-part series. Retrieved 19th July '24
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 Daily Mail reporting on Fashanu's comments surrounding the show's potential, and its backlash from animal rights groups. Retrieved 19th July '24
  12. ↑ Archived Broadcast reporting on Fashanu being selected as the show's host. Retrieved 19th July '24
  13. ↑ These Football Times detailing Fashanu's football career. Retrieved 19th July '24
  14. ↑ Gladiators TV biography on Fashanu. Retrieved 19th July '24
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 The Guardian reporting on ITV cancelling the airing of Man Versus Beast. Retrieved 19th July '24
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Teeside Live reporting on the show's controversy and Granada's comments about how it ensured the animals' safety. Retrieved 19th July '24
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Irish Examiner reporting on Fashanu competing in a staring contest against a crocodile. Retrieved 19th July '24
  18. ↑ Shutterstock providing a photograph of the crocodile staring contest. Retrieved 19th July '24
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Shutterstock providing a photograph of Ross competing in a pushing contest against an elephant. Retrieved 19th July '24
  20. ↑ Archived Irish Strength Association summarising Ross' career. Retrieved 19th July '24
  21. ↑ Shutterstock providing a behind-the-scenes photograph of the elephant pushing challenge.Retrieved 19th July '24
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Archived Captive Animals announcing its protest against Man Versus Beast. Retrieved 19th July '24
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Guardian claiming Fashanu hosting Man Versus Beast was a step down in his television career. Retrieved 19th July '24
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Archived Captive Animals' Protection Society announcing ITV had cancelled Man Versus Beast's original air date. Retrieved 19th July '24
  25. ↑ Digital Spy reporting on ITV pulling Man Versus Beast from the schedule. Retrieved 19th July '24
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Lancashire Telegraph reporting on the special being pulled from air and ITV's insistence it would be broadcast at a later date. Retrieved 19th July '24
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 14th December 2003 issue of Sunday World (Dublin) providing a TV listing for Man Versus Beast on ITV2 (found on British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 164). Retrieved 19th July '24
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 17th December 2003 issue of Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian providing a TV listing for Man Versus Beast on ITV2 (found on British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 37). Retrieved 19th July '24
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 21st December 2003 issue of Sunday World (Dublin) providing a TV listing for Man Versus Beast on ITV2 (found on British Newspaper Archive, p.g. 162). Retrieved 19th July '24
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 UK Game Shows summary of Man Versus Beast and claiming it never aired on television. Retrieved 19th July '24
  31. ↑ British Film Institute listing of Man Versus Beast. Retrieved 19th July '24
  32. ↑ Shutterstock providing behind-the-scenes photographs of the special. Retrieved 19th July '24
  33. ↑ Sentient Media detailing the ethical concerns over animals in entertainment. Retrieved 19th July '24
Retrieved from "https://lostmediawiki.com/w/index.php?title=Man_Versus_Beast_(lost_unaired_ITV_adaptation_of_Fox_reality_show;_2003)&oldid=271625"