It’s like Fear Factor – but in the dark. Challenges include walking across a plank without the benefit of actually seeing the plank (or how far above the floor it really is), crawling through tunnels filled with unidentified objects, and guessing the weight of objects and/or people (from a large snake to a sumo wrestler) just by touch.

But the highlight of Total Blackout episodes tends to be the hilarity-producing challenge that requires contestants to identify the contents of six boxes. Those challenges have produced freak-outs and squeamish responses to things as scary as live tarantulas and as benign as teddy bears and hairbrushes.

Total Blackout is hosted by Jaleel White, best known for his role as nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel on Family Matters.

Total Blackout premieres on Friday, 9 October at 21:00 on Sony Max, channel 128 on DStv. It continues Tuesdays to Thursdays on Sony Max at 21:00.

*Image courtesy of Sony Max