4's message board for the programme – that the entire show, including the apparent gullibility and abject ignorance of the Cadets, was in fact a double bluff; all the Cadets were actors and that the real target of "the biggest prank in television history" was the "gullible" viewing public. The theories were lent considerable credibility when Ryan McBride was sighted in a TV advert for blood donation, although he later explained he was recruited as an extra on-location and was not a professional actor. Variations on this "conspiracy theory" included the actor Cadets being unaware of the hoax; that each Cadet believed themselves to be the only actor; or that the actors/Cadets believed the viewers thought the space mission was genuine. One conspiracy theory even went as far as to suggest a real trip into space could be awarded to one of the unsuspecting actor Cadets, possibly using a company like Virgin Galactic or Space Adventures for the prize. Once the programme reached its end these suspicions proved to be unfounded. See also Capricorn One References External links Space Cadets at Channel4.com UKGameshows.com: Space Cadets Unreality TV — News and discussions on Space Cadets Space Cadets News Precise filming locations on the Bentwaters base, using online maps and aerial photos Mark Barry's web page about his involvement Channel 4 game shows Television series by Zeppotron Performance hoaxes 2000s British reality television series 2005 British television series debuts Hoaxes in the United Kingdom 2005 hoaxes English-language television shows 2005 British television series endings Television series about space programs British reality television series