Cameraman stabbed in Ritchie TV stunt

A cameraman working on Guy Ritchie’s new TV show was stabbed after a stunt designed to trap would-be car thieves went disastrously wrong.

He was attacked during filming for five’s hidden camera show Swag, which was devised by Madonna’s film director husband.

Described as “a cross between Police! Camera! Action! and Trigger Happy TV”, the series tries to tempt members of the public into committing illegal acts.

The stabbing happened on November 9 when the production team left an expensive car unlocked in a run-down area of London to see if someone would try to steal it.

It was rigged to lock automatically and fill up with foam if someone got behind the wheel.

Before long, two youths appeared on the scene in Bow, east London, and let themselves into the car.

But when it began filling with foam, they failed to see the funny side and instead smashed their way out through the window.

Spotting the cameraman filming the incident from across the street, one of the youths allegedly ran over and stabbed him in the leg with a screwdriver.

Paramedics were called and the injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for five said: “This was an unfortunate incident but happily the cameraman was not seriously injured and he was back at work the next day.”

He denied that there was any question of entrapment in the show’s format: “Everyone appearing in the show will have signed a consent form saying they are happy to be featured.”

Swag is co-produced by Ritchie’s company Ska Films, and Monkey, a production company set up by former Chris Evans sidekick Will MacDonald.

Other stunts planned for the series include placing an advert in a newspaper asking for volunteers to help carry out a bank robbery.

Five entertainment controller Andrew Newman said the show was “about getting your own back on people who are not necessarily criminals but are a little bit greedy”.

It is due to air this spring and Ritchie will be hoping it provides him with a much-needed hit.

After success with his debut feature, gangster film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, he was touted as one of Britain’s brightest directing talents.

He followed it up with Snatch, starring Brad Pitt, which also performed well at the box office.

But a Lock, Stock TV spin-off flopped and his professional reputation has yet to recover from the disastrous Swept Away.

The film, which starred Madonna as a pampered heiress marooned on a desert island, was mauled by the critics in the US – one warned audiences it was “as awful as you’ve heard and as bad as you’ve imagined”.

It will go straight to video in the UK after taking only $600,000 on its US release.

* Two youths from east London appeared in court on December 12 charged in connection with the incident.

A 15-year-old boy was charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

A second youth, aged 16, was charged with attempted GBH and violent disorder.

The hearing at Thames Youth Court was adjourned and the youths remanded on bail. A date has not yet been set for their next appearance.