Space Cadets: The British Reality Show That Convinced Contestants They Were In Space

The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things

In this episode of The Compendium, we revisit Space Cadets: How A British Reality Show Convinced Contestants They Were In Space. In 2005, Channel 4 and Endemol staged the most ambitious TV hoax in British history, tricking contestants into believing they had been launched into orbit. Hosted by Johnny Vaughan, the show combined fake cosmonaut training, a shuttle simulator, and an elaborate Ipswich “Russian base” to sell the illusion. Nearly twenty years later, we unpack how Space Cadets blurred entertainment and deception, why it remains reality TV’s strangest moment, and how contestants truly believed they were in space.

We give you just the Compendium, but if you want more, here are our resources:

• Space Cadets (2005) – Wikipedia
• Space Cadets TV Series - Youtube
• Ipswich, we have a problem - The Guardian
• Capricorn One (1978) – by Peter Hyams

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• About: Kyle and Adam are more than just your hosts, they’re your close friends sharing intriguing stories from tales from the darker corners of true crime, the annals of your forgotten history books, and the who's who of incredible people.
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland by Aleksey Chistilin
• Trailer Music: Stealy Move by Soundroll

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