Back in August, we teamed up with Hungry Bear to film a hidden-camera prank for Michael McIntyre’s Big Show on BBC One at the AO Arena — which aired on BBC One last night.
The project involved deploying OB1 across the underground areas of the venue, alongside eight fixed cameras positioned throughout the arena, an extensive Bolero comms network, and concealed earpieces to allow discreet, real-time communication with talent and contributors — all while protecting the surprise element.
Michael McIntyre appeared in full WWE gear to give two young children the surprise of their lives, joining their dad on stage for a WWE-style battle that concluded with a £10,000 donation to the children’s hospital they had been fundraising for.
From a technical perspective, this was a large-scale operation requiring careful planning and coordination, with cabling routed throughout the venue, cameras hidden in plain sight, and comms systems operating seamlessly across multiple levels of the arena. A genuinely lovely project to be involved with, and a great opportunity for Over Exposed to apply our broadcast expertise beyond sport while delivering a moment built entirely on precision, timing, and surprise.