Politicians to star in reality show

Health Minister Tony Ryall. Photo / Supplied

Imagine dapper Health Minister Tony Ryall emptying bedpans in a hospital ward.

Or how about Corrections Minister Judith Collins donning a police uniform and truncheon to head out on the beat?

These arresting images could soon be appearing on our television screens in the latest reality show from Great Southern Television.

Make The Politician Work will see some government ministers getting their hands dirty as they are thrown in to the type of work they usually employ others to do.

The series is in production, according to Great Southern Television's Facebook site.

However, Philip Smith, the company's director, was keeping schtum about the project. He said he did not want to comment until the deal had been finalised with TVNZ.

A spokeswoman for TVNZ said she also could not make any comment.

But ritual humiliation of politicians is expected to be a ratings winner and the show is expected to screen on TV One sometime next year.

A similar series has already screened in Canada in which the country's defence minister underwent a combat boot camp.

Great Southern Television has previously produced Eating Media Lunch and has gained critical acclaim for its TV2 satire news show, Feedback, which screens on Wednesday.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said the show had not yet been finalised.