Banged Up on Channel 4 -Tom Rosenthal, Sid Owen and Marcus Luther pictured

Banged Up: Who's in the new Channel 4 series?

In a new four-part series commissioned by Channel 4, seven famous faces investigate what life is like behind bars by entering the decommissioned HMP Shrewsbury, formerly a Category B/C men's prison in Shropshire.

The well-known celebrities will spend eight days incarcerated alongside a variety of now reformed ex-criminals who have agreed to re-enter the prison for the series, including those who have served long sentences.

30/08/2023

Sneak peak:

Who is in Banged Up on Channel 4’s Banged Up?

From former MPs and columnists to soap icons and singers, these are the famous faces brave enough to take on the inside of HMP Shrewsbury becomes home to.

Sid Owen

Best known for playing Ricky Butcher in Eastenders.

Over the years, Sid Own been gracing our screens for decades also starring in Bad Girl, 100 Years Younger in 21 Days and taking part in Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity.

Tom Rosenthal

Comedian and actor, Tom Rosenthal is best known for his roles as Jonny in Friday Night Dinner and Marcus in comedy series Plebs.

Marcus Luther

Avid TV watchers might recognise this famous face sitting on his sofa on Gogglebox. However, this year, TV personality, boxing coach and gym owner Marcus Luther joins the cast of Banged Up to experience life inside.

HRVY

Singer HRVY, who had formerly competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, is the youngest celeb cast member to enter HMP Shrewsbury for the docuseries.

Neil Parish

Avid farmer Neil Parish is a former Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton from 2010 until his resignation in 2022.

Peter Hitchens

Mail on Sunday columnist and author Peter Hitchens is also among the famous faces banged up for the series.

In his column about his time behind bars he wrote: “Later in my stay I would often be miserable, several times physically afraid, and on one occasion so hemmed in by hostility and confinement that I came close to a furious, desperate meltdown.”

Is Banged Up real?

For the series, HMP Shrewsbury is run by a former prison governor, with 20 years’ experience in some of the UK’s toughest prisons. Former prison officers and staff have also been brought alongside former now reformed inmates, all of whom will live by current UK prison rules for the series.

How to watch Banged Up

Banged Up airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday 31st October at 9:15pm and will run for four episodes. Each episode will also be available to stream on Channel 4.