Top Gear prankster Richard Hammond coming to Southend (From Southend Standard)

Top Gear prankster Richard Hammond coming to Southend

8:00am Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News

A PRANK show for the BBC fronted by Top Gear’s Richard Hammond is coming to Southend.

Cameramen will be in the town next Friday to film footage for Richard Hammond’s Secret Service, which is being presented by the man known as the Hamster.

Using hidden cameras, a team of trained actors and comedians will play jokes or pull off a stunt on ordinary people who have been nominated by a friend or relative.

The six-part series is due to air on BBC 1 sometime next year on Saturday evenings and is being produced by Endemol UK, who have worked with Hammond before on Total Wipeout.

Nick Samwell-Smith, one of the show’s creators, said: “Following on from the great fun we’ve had with Total Wipeout, we’re delighted to be working with Richard again on this exciting new hidden camera show, which will make for great family viewing.”

Crews are scheduled to be filming at the pier and along the seafront, with producers currently on the lookout for people to take part.

The programme has been described as funny, heart-warming family entertainment with the team willing to take on a wide range of challenges.

A spokeswoman for Endemol, which also founded Big Brother, said: “Whether you want to propose to your girlfriend, impress your teenage son or get back at your best mate, the team will complete your mission in the most absurd, extreme and ridiculous way they can.”

If you want to put someone forward for a prank, e-mail secretservice@endemoluk.com or call 0330 577 7755.

Anyone who is interested in putting someone forward for the show must be available to be in Southend for a maximum of 45 minutes on the day.