Russia imported to UK to fool 'Space Cadets'

Producers of new hoax reality series Space Cadets have emptied Russian supermarkets of supplies in order to convince contestants they are really in Russia.

The clueless would-be astronauts believe they are at a space training centre in Russia but are actually holed up at a disused miltary base just outside of London.

"It has a look that you wouldn't necessarily expect to see in this country so it could be anywhere," explained executive producer Shirley Jones. "We did some research into Star City in Russia and there were just huge similarities in the whole appearance of it, so it's an ideal place. There's a soundproof building where they used to test jet engines, which means they won't hear any sounds of lorries going past or aircraft overhead."

To keep up the pretense, the entire base has had to be completely refurbished with authentic products. "We've had to change every plug socket, every manhole cover and lightbulb," said Jones. "We've been over to Russia and literally emptied the supermarkets of food, toilet paper, matches, cigarettes, anything from a vending machine.

"It's never the big things that tip you off, it's always the smallest thing, so we've got to have meticulous attention to detail. We've had people combing the site, just walking and walking and walking, to see if they can spot anything - a price tag, a stamp or anything with English writing on it."

In order to get to "Russia", the contestants were whisked away on a lengthy helicopter flight in the middle of the night. "They were flying over the sea for a lot of the time. There was a very careful flight path worked out for them, so they didn't fly over too many populated areas with things they might recognise."

Space Cadets begins next Wednesday on Channel 4.