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Naked and alone: the comedian trapped in a reality TV show

When Nasubi got a place on the popular Japanese reality TV show Denpa Shōnen he couldn't believe his luck. But he had no idea he would soon be fighting starvation live on TV.

Nasubi had no idea his 15-month fight to survive was being broadcast on Japanese TV.

In the late 1990s aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, lived inside a small room for 15 months surviving off sweepstake competition winnings. He was naked, alone and hungry. He was also completely unaware he had become the most famous television personality in Japan, his life broadcast to millions of viewers each week.

A documentary about Nasubi's experience has been made called The Contestant.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: May Cameron

Get in touch: liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784

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46 minutes

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    Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary personal stories