What happens when you take six Aussie celebrities, strip away their creature comforts, and plunge them into shark-infested waters? SHARK! is what happens.
Co-host of the new Nine outing, shark attack survivor and former Navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder, chatted with Mediaweek and didn’t sugarcoat the terrifying reality of the jaw-some series. (Sorry- had to get one shark pun away at least).
The format transports six high-profile Australians to Bimini in the Bahamas.
It’s a location that’s famous for being a shark diving capital of the world. But that fact that seemed to be somewhat of a surprise to the unwitting, and slightly unhinged cast, featuring Scott Cam, Ariarne Titmus, Lynne McGranger, Matt Nable, Sam Thaiday, and Tammy Hembrow.
Cue the two-note cello theme from Jaws.
A format with teeth
The program pairs the celebrities with de Gelder, and renowned shark researcher Annie Guttridge. Together, the experts lead the cast through escalating encounters with bull sharks, great hammerheads, and tiger sharks.
De Gelder actively helped develop the challenges.
He drew on his decade of experience working with these sharks in the Bahamas. Because he knows the area and the animals so well, he was able to provide crucial input on what was feasible and safe.
Having already worked on developing the format for the UK market, de Gelder enthusiastically champions the local iteration.
“I honestly prefer the Australian version a lot better,” he said. “Each of the celebrities brings something real and raw and honest to it and they all go through their own individual journeys, which I think is really beautiful.”
SHARK! hosts and mentors, Paul de Gelder and Annie Guttridge. Image: supplied
No sugarcoating the danger
The production team aimed to give the celebrities an authentic education about the ocean’s most misunderstood predators.
And there’s no better teacher to give that lesson than Paul De Gelder. After losing his right hand and leg to a bull shark in 2009, he’s evolved from a combat diver into a passionate shark conservation advocate.
Now he dedicates his life to educating people about the animals, even running his own tourist trips and hand-feeding tiger sharks.
Despite the educational goals, television production in open water carries inherent risks. The celebrities arrived with close to zero scuba diving experience. This lack of knowledge added an extra layer of tension to an already stressful shoot.
“Working in TV and working with wild animals is intrinsically dangerous because it is a wild environment,” de Gelder explained. “You’re not just dealing with sharks, you’re dealing with boats, you’re dealing with weather, you’re dealing with currents and tides.”
When it comes to the apex predators themselves, de Gelder refuses to soften the reality for the cast.
“We’re not going to sugarcoat it,” he said. “These sharks will literally rip your whole head off given half a chance.”
Sam Thaiday, Matt Nable, and Scott Cam before they got their feet wet. Images: supplied
Facing personal demons
Every celebrity brought unique apprehensions to the Bahamian waters.
Even Olympic champions are not immune to the terror of the deep. Four-time gold medallist Titmus might be at home in the pool, but she admits the unknown beneath the ocean’s surface is a lifelong phobia that paralyses her.
De Gelder noted that her journey is particularly intense because she is not just afraid of sharks, she is genuinely scared of the ocean itself.
For actor and former NRL player Matt Nable, the challenge proved deeply personal and exceptionally stressful.
Nable’s anxiety grew significantly before filming because he belongs to a community that lost someone to a shark attack on the northern beaches shortly before the shoot.
He had to summon immense mental fortitude to push through his fear and find genuine respect for the animals.
Stepping out of the comfort zone
Meanwhile, 70-something Home and Away veteran Lynne McGranger left a massive impression on the production team.
“I was very surprised that she actually signed on for this at all,” de Gelder admitted. He pointed out that scuba diving requires intense physical exertion, forcing divers to pull themselves up ladders and manage their buoyancy. “She is this lovely frail, like nana figure, and the equipment that she has to wear is so heavy.”
Because of her revered status within the group, the stakes felt exceptionally high during her challenges.
“It gets real emotional for Lynn,” de Gelder said. “And because when it does get pretty dangerous and emotional for Lynn, it becomes emotional for everyone.”
Tammy Hembrow, Lynne McGranger, and Ariarne Titmus still smiling. For now. Images: supplied
Turning fear into respect
For de Gelder, the series perfectly mirrors his own extraordinary life trajectory. Remarkably, he transformed his greatest fear into his life’s work, completely shifting his mission from combat to conservation.
“My literal worst fears in life was sharks and public speaking and now I’m a shark diving public speaker,” de Gelder shared. “If you are willing to confront your greatest fears head on, they can turn into your greatest strength.”
He hopes the series will impart a similar lesson to both the cast and the audience at home.
SHARK! premieres Sunday, 31 May at 9:00 pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Feature image- (L-R) Matt Nable, Ariarne Titmus, Lynne McGranger, Paul de Gelder, Scott Cam, Sam Thaiday, and Tammy Hembrow: supplied.