UNDERCOVER EDUCATION: CHANNEL 4 ANNOUNCES NEW DIGITAL SERIES WITH KONNIE HUQ

Channel 4 today announces Undercover Education, a new branded entertainment series which marks the third partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and MG OMD to drop in 2025.

Presented by television and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author Konnie Huq, this uplifting series sees skilled professionals from Construction, Motor Mechanics and Catering unknowingly step into the role of further education teachers.

In this exciting new series – described as a “prank show with purpose”- a group of industry professionals are tasked with guiding an ‘intern’ who in actuality is an undercover further education teacher. Equipped with an earpiece, the intern will be fed conversation starters by a team of students and Konnie that highlight the professionals  patience, creativity and value of their existing, real world industry experience. Will the professional realise they possess a natural ability to guide and inspire those entering the further education workforce?

This third partnership of 2025 between Channel 4 and DfE is produced by Zandland and is set for Channel 4’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, as well as on Channel 4 streaming. The deal was led by media agency OmniGOV at MG OMD.

Konnie Huq: “It was great to work with the participants in these three fields to see their knowledge and the power of mentorship, whilst of course a lot of fun coming up with the conversations and pranks carried out by the undercover ‘interns’.”

Rupinder Downie, Content Solutions Leader at Channel 4 said: “Undercover Education is an engaging, surprising, and heartwarming branded entertainment series that showcases the branded, creative approaches only Channel 4 Sales can offer our clients, to meet individual campaign and departments briefs.”

Stephen Parnell, Digital Commissioning Executive at Channel 4 said: “Undercover Education is a prank show with purpose, hosted by TV legend Konnie Huq – someone we’re incredibly excited to be working with. In this fun new format, we’ll be introduced to some truly brilliant contributors, in the form of our Undercover-further education teachers and the Industry Professionals that they’ll be pranking. From which we’ll spotlight new talent within different industries and hopefully inspire others. As well as this format highlighting the exciting editorial concepts that brands can take!”

Josh Reynolds, Executive Producer at Zandland said: “"Undercover Education has been such a fun and impactful series to have made in partnership with Channel 4 and the Department of Education as Zandland grows its Branded Content offering.  We loved crafting this unique social experiment, orchestrating secret challenges that both entertain and delivers important messages about further education. We're super proud of the final result and all of the amazing contributors who put up with our pranks - ultimately showing that so many people in the professional industries out there may have what it takes to step into the shoes of a further education teacher.” 

Megan Verney, Partnerships Managers at MG OMD said: “Partnering with Channel 4 and Department for Education has resulted in an excellent campaign - Undercover Education - which has been a joy to see come to life. The series is such an impactful piece of content, done in a very engaging way but still incorporating the importance behind further education. We hope industry professionals will relate to the series, and find encouragement to explore a career as a further education teacher.”

More details will be announced in due course.