Behind the scenes
Creating challenges for the Lab Rats is no ordinary job, explains producer Nic Guttridge.
What have been the best and worst moments?
Mike: Because of the nature of the series there have been some definite highs and lows. It was a demanding series to film. I guess the lows would mainly centre on the sleep deprivation shoot. Nothing enjoyable happened over those three days and a lot happened that I didn't like. For most of the time I really felt sick. London at night sucked (especially when it was raining) and the dancing girl sketch at the end of the programme was painfully embarrassing, not to mention a bit unnecessary in a programme about sleep.
Of course the good times far outweighed the bad times. I loved the flights in both the F-16 and the stunt planes. They were truly awesome. Meeting Mark O'Shea and his snakes was cool and having a sperm race on a big screen in a pub with an audience of screaming students was a great laugh. With a few exceptions the whole shoot was fun. We always seemed to do more laughing than talking and the team behind the scenes on location were great.
Actually I've changed my mind about the worse times. Driving that VW camper with no heater, no windscreen washers and no driver's door window through a blizzard in Birmingham was a pretty dire experience. Particularly when the brakes started pulling to one side and it refused to tick over.
Zeron: Best is being cured of my snake phobia and actually managing to sleep in a python cage (not many people can put that on their CV.)
Worst, was having to confront my worse fear in the snake house. And having to watch Mike take off in the F-16. I begged and pleaded for another go in the centrifuge to prove my passing out was a fluke. And having my erection strength measured. Of course most bloke would love to do something like that (but with a home use kit not on flipping national television).
What do your friends and family think of your Lab Rats adventures?
Mike: My Mum in particular thinks I'm mad, maybe because her friends in my home village are always asking her about the latest programme and commenting on things like the tapeworm that I grew in my gut for BBC ONE's Bodysnatchers. My Dad doesn't seem particularly surprised that I get up to the tricks that I do, perhaps because he's done so many weird and wonderful things in the past that it's almost expected. My brothers and sisters think that it's a weird way to make money, and my nieces and nephews love bragging to their school mates about the latest stunt that I have pulled. Perhaps my new wife, Liz, is most affected. She does worry sometimes that I'll hurt myself, but gives me loads of support when I have to do something I'm not keen on.Zeron: All my friends were envious at first but as the things I had to do unfolded they became relieved it wasn't them going through it. One mate thought the casting of my scrotum in a monkey house was far more information that he needed to know, but a couple of females have said I've got a cute arse.
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Content last updated: 23/08/2005
