The Bridge: James McAvoy to host bizarre Channel 4 show in which contestants must build 250-metre-long bridge

Contestants on the show are ‘clueless’ strangers given 20 days to build the bridge

Channel 4 is launching a new competition series in which contestants must build a 250-metre bridge for the chance to win £100,000.

The series, titled The Bridge, will see 12 “clueless” strangers challenged with working together to build a bridge to an island situated 250 metres from them in the middle of a lake.

The team are given 20 days to collectively complete the task, with a £100,000 cash prize waiting for whoever is voted the most deserving by their fellow workers.

Described as “the ultimate test of mental skill, physical agility and group dynamics”, the five-part series is based on Spanish series El Puente, which ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2018.

It will be narrated by Scottish actor James McAvoy and air on Channel 4 later this year.

Scottish actor James McAvoy will narrate the five-part series (Getty Images)

Phil Harris, Head of Entertainment at Channel 4, said: “This is such an exciting first reality commission for me and the Channel 4 entertainment department.

“The brilliant [production company] Workerbee have conjured up the entertaining twists, comedy and drama viewers associate with classic Channel 4 reality, against what might be considered a traditionally more factual backdrop.”

The series is currently being filmed following “strict Covid-19 production guidelines”.