Ritchie behind Channel 5 show

Madonna and Ritchie married in December 2000

Madonna's film director husband Guy Ritchie is behind a new hidden camera show launching on Channel 5 next year.

Swag, which will film people being tempted into committing illegal acts, is described by its makers as a "cross between Police Camera Action and Trigger Happy TV".

The format was created by Ritchie, better-known as the director of crime films Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Madonna stars in Ritchie's new film

Swag is being co-produced by Ritchie's company, Ska Films, although the director will not be involved in the show's production.

One stunt lined up for the programme involves leaving a bicycle in the street to see if someone steals it - but preparing the bicycle so that it steers right when the rider turns left, and vice versa.

Crimes

Another hinges on placing an advert in a newspaper asking people to carry out a bank robbery.

The show will also reconstruct imaginary crimes, such as a bank robbery by a man who has just got out of prison, and leaves a finger at the scene of the crime.

The series, of eight 30-minute shows, will be broadcast early in 2003.

Ritchie is currently putting the finishing touches to the new film he has made with Madonna.

Swept Away stars Madonna stars as a wealthy woman who falls in love with a sailor when they are shipwrecked on a desert island.

But it has been dogged by bad publicity, including reports that test audiences found it "diabolical".