What's life like behind bars? Channel 4's latest docuseries – Banged Up – explores just that. As six celebrities head to the decommissioned HMP Shrewsbury to investigate, they'll be kept in cells, given jobs, put through body searches and spend time with ex-convicts in a bid to learn more about life in prison.
So, who's taking up for the challenge? Introducing the cast of Banged Up…
Meet the cast of Banged Up
Sid Owen
Best known for portraying Ricky Butcher in EastEnders, Sid Owen has also appeared on Britain's favourite reality shows, including I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and Strictly Come Dancing.
© GettyTaking to Instagram ahead of the premiere of Banged Up, Sid called the show "One of the maddest experiences I've done to date." During a recent interview with The Mirror, the soap star explained that as he's the only member of his family who hasn't been to prison, the series immediately sparked his interest.
"I feel like the odd one out – everyone in my family had done time. Even my mum was a petty thief. I wanted to see what my brothers and Dad had to deal with," he said.
Tom Rosenthal
Comedy star Tom Rosenthal has had quite the career after playing Jonny Goodman in Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020) and Marcus Gallo in Plebs (2013–2022). More recently, he appeared as Trent in Guy Ritchie's spy comedy, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023).
© GettyMarcus Luther
TV personality Marcus Luther has joined the cast of Banged Up. After signing on to Channel 4'a Gogglebox back in 2018, Marcus and his wife Mica quickly became fan favourites. The couple have since made appearances on The Weakest Link and Pointless. Outside of the world of TV, Marcus is a businessman, boxing coach and gym owner.
© Photo: Channel 4MORE: Time viewers saying same thing about series 2 of BBC drama
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HRVY
TV presenter and Singer HRVY has opened up about his time in HMP Shrewsbury. Speaking to the Daily Star, he explained: "It was like Love Island, Big Brother style cameras and filming, but in a prison. It was 24 hours a day filming, the weird thing was it was a social experiment documentary but it has that reality TV format with the cameras and I am not used to any of that stuff."
© GettyPrior to signing on to Banged Up, HRVY had competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020
Neil Parish
Neil Parish is a former Conservative MP who served Tiverton and Honiton from 2010 until his 2022 resignation.
Peter Hitchens
Peter Hitchens is an author and regular Mail on Sunday columnist. Earlier this month, Peter spoke about his time on Banged Up in his column.
© Getty"I made a mental vow to try as hard as I could to join in the spirit of the thing. For that reason, though you are free to doubt me, I spent much of my time in Shrewsbury jail feeling real discomfort, real nervousness and confusion and on occasions real fear," he said.
