Graham Norton's exhilarating new reality programme launches this week.

The Neighbourhood is a completely original format in which families and households go head-to-head in a street-sized popularity contest, vying for the opportunity to walk away with a life-changing cash prize of £250,000.

The 11-part ITV series transforms everyday living into a spectacular gameshow that is authentic, immersive and firmly grounded in genuine relationships.

It blends high-stakes competition, extraordinary challenges and relatable domestic drama to deliver an entirely fresh take on reality television.

Discussing his involvement in the show, BAFTA award-winning presenter Graham explained: "One of the loveliest things about the show is seeing households who would never meet in real life, not only meeting but forming proper bonds of friendship."

"There are a few moments in the show that really do bring a tear to my eye because it's just so genuine, so lovely and properly heartwarming.

"It's such an odd word to describe a show like this but it's properly wholesome. There's something about the bright colours, being out in the countryside and the genuine bonds that you see created."

The six competing households are The Bradons, The Kandolas and Samra, The Lozman Sturrocks, The Pescuds, The Scouse Haus and The Uni Boys.

A succession of challenges will push every neighbour to their absolute limits as they attempt to eliminate one another while avoiding becoming unpopular enough to face the chop themselves.

Graham added: "Because the prize is so big and because these are all pre- existing relationships in pre-existing households, feelings ran quite high and so there would be tension.

"As the game went on, things definitely became heated. As much as I enjoyed watching that play out and we do, I wouldn't try to stop it.

"Once it was finished, I'd see it as my job to diffuse the situation and get back to a nice place to do the next challenge or whatever the next element of the game was going to be.

"I think those tensions are great to watch because they're not manufactured.

"No one thinks if I do this, I'll get more air time. There are siblings who have a row, there is a father in law and a son in law having a major disagreement, which they'll probably have again when they're watching it on the telly."

The Neighbourhood starts on Friday, April 24 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX