A brand new series starting April 4 on ITV2 The ten celebrities that will face the daunting challenge of producing a weekly glossy magazine under the editorship of Fleet Street legend Janet Street Porter are announced today.The rookie reporters taking part in Deadline are Abi Titmuss, Dean Holdsworth, Chris Parker, Dom Joly, Yvette Fielding, Iwan Thomas, Imogen Lloyd Webber, Lisa I’Anson, Ingrid Tarrant and Blair McDonough.The famous ten will have to write the stories, forage for gossip, interview their peers and ‘out-pap’ the paparazzi. But will they able to match the standards required by their experienced editor? The pressure will be immense as not only are they making an entirely new magazine – it will be inserted into UK’s biggest selling women’s weekly Closer.The celebrities will have to impress larger than life paparazzi Darryn Lyons who will run the picture desk and showbiz writer Joe Mott who will be making sure their writing is up to scratch.Over six weeks viewers will see the hopefuls pull together all the elements that make up a magazine and as time goes on and the pressure rises, it will become clear who can hack it…and who can’t. Each week, a celebrity who’s not cut out for life on the fast paced mag will be singled out and fired, no doubt with a few choice remarks ringing in his or her ear. Will the pro’s manage to knock their willing victims into shape? And will the celebrities make use of their little black books to get the ultimate exclusive?

From the moment the twice weekly show starts, the pampered stars will have to turn their backs on the world of air-kissing and spray-on smiles and get down and dirty in the cut throat world of celebrity gossip.

Deadline is a Tiger Aspect production for ITV2.

JANET STREET-PORTER, EDITOR

The former editor of the Independent on Sunday will be keeping a watchful eye on the celebrities and have overall control over the magazine.

"I thought it was a really original idea. I'm asked to do lots of these sorts of shows. I've trained to be a midwife and a teacher and driven a taxi on reality TV shows before. But this is one I'm really qualified for because I've edited a national newspaper and a magazine. I really liked the idea of working in an area I know a lot about.

"I really know what is required with this sort of magazine because I've been on both sides of the divide. I've been an editor, but I've also been ambushed by the paparazzi and had snotty things written about me in the press. What particularly appealed about this was that it was a really challenging project.

"It's different from a lot of reality TV shows because it will produce something tangible. Viewers will lap up the programme because it will show the trials and tribulations that these amateurs go through, but they will also be able to enjoy the finished product in Closer, as well as the website, into which they will be able to feed their own stuff. So Deadline will work on three different levels: as TV entertainment, as a magazine, and as a website. It's a triple whammy!

"My biggest fear is that none of the celebs will be able to write snappy, entertaining copy. They won't be allowed to write in semi-literate 'text-speak'. It's one thing writing a shopping list, but quite another writing a feature. The stories won't be that long, but for some people coming up with 800 words will be like climbing a mountain or writing War and Peace!

"The most difficult thing for me will be if the producers choose celebrities that I know very well and I have to sack them. I'm not very good at sacking people. When I was an executive at the BBC, I got other people to do the sacking for me! It will be hard, but I think I'll be able to do it. Let's be honest, if these celebs haven't done their job, then I'll be so hacked off with them, it will be easy to dismiss them!"

DARRYN LYONS, PICTURE EDITOR

Australian Darryn Lyons founded the paparazzi photo agency Big Pictures and will be making sure that the celebrities get great pictures for the magazine.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to create a magazine that has my own stamp on it. It takes me back to the days when I was working on newspapers. I was at the Daily Mail for some time but I've been my own boss for a number of years now. I employ more than 250 people around the world. So it will be a very interesting experience to see how I cope back in-house!

"I get on really well with Janet. We have a great mutual respect. But having said that, there are bound to be clashes between us because we're both used to being in charge and we're both big personalities. But I'm sure we'll work it out. The one thing I'm not looking forward to is the incompetence of the celebrities. I don't think many of them will be able to cope with actually working for a living!"

JOE MOTT, COPY EDITOR

Joe has his own column in the Daily Star newspaper. He’s spent years on the party scene getting the low down on the stars.

"I live and breathe celebrities, and the thing I'm most looking forward to is giving some of the ones who'll be working for me a good kicking!

“They don't really have proper jobs - a lot of stuff they do is very easy. They have very nice lives, but that won't wash when they're working on this publication. We have to get out an excellent magazine for six weeks, and the celebs will really need to work hard to produce it. If they get something wrong, I'll tell them nicely the first time, and not so nicely the second!

"Things could kick off between me and Janet. I'm just looking forward to seeing how good a cup of tea she makes!"

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