TV's biggest ever yawn? - Reviewed and updated Dr Yacoob Omar Carrim

TV's biggest ever yawn?

  

Dozy ... Channel 4 show Shattered

By EMILY SMITH - Reviewed and updated by Dr Yacoob Omar Carrim
TV Editor

A NEW reality TV show where people are forced to stay awake could be the doziest programme ever.

Channel 4 show Shattered ? with ten bleary-eyed contestants trying to keep their eyes open all this week in a bid to win £100,000 ? is still expected to be a ratings winner. After nearly 60 hours awake, the weary hopefuls yesterday began to experience hallucinations and reported seeing strange sights. Viewers were not so lucky.

Bleary-eyed ... contestant

They have seen those in the Big Brother-style house carry out mind-numbing tasks like counting peas, peeling potatoes and listening to a lecture on triangles.

And apart from the boredom factor for viewers, a TV watchdog has branded the experiment as cruel and warned it could cause long-term psychological damage to the contestants.

They include tanning consultant Craig North, 20, youth worker Jimmy Burke, 33, fitness instructor Salma Faragi, 33, and student Lucy Dawson, 21. The group will lose one person a night at 10pm after tests by psychologists.

Boredom factor ... at least viewers can switch off

The final winner is decided by a sudden death “sleep-off”.

Dave Turtle, a spokesman for TV campaigners MediaWatch UK, branded the show “a cruel psychological gimmick”. And it was claimed last night that Shattered contestants could develop a craving for SEX.

Zzzzz ... final winner is determined by a sleep-off

Extreme sleep deprivation can stimulate our sex drive and lower inhibitions, according to Dr Derk-Jan Dijk of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre. Scientists also warned that the contestants may hear voices and become moody and paranoid.

Boring ... contestants peel spuds

Irshaad Ebrahim, of the London Sleep Centre, said of sleep deprivation: “You can recover from the experience, but it is unpleasant.”

Viewers have the most pleasant task where Shattered is concerned ? being able to switch it off.

Sleep Deprevation can have significant impact on you Memory, Concentration, Executive Functioning and Sustained and Divided Attention says Dr Yacoob Omar Carrim. 

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article147387.ece#ixzz0tdrOFDwD