Production has begun in Toronto on the Space reality series Panic Button, from Toronto-based 11 Television Canada.

“The Panic Button arena is a multi-phased, ever-changing labyrinth of fear that is customized for each person. Panic Button is different from every other reality show because it’s not a contest against other people – subjects are playing only against themselves,” said series co-creator and exec producer Kevin Healey in a statement.

“Panic Button is both gripping and frightening. As the participants work their way through increasingly scary and eerie situations, the audience experiences the fear and bravery of the participants through their eyes,” said Bell Media senior VP of independent production Corrie Coe in her own statement.

The new format, developed by Healey (Destination Fear, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers) and Jonathan Dueck (Destination Fear, Pawnathon) features real people who face their greatest fears, including confinement, germs, snakes, spiders or swarming.

The group of participants in each episode face the Panic Button maze, or four escalating “levels of fear” they must navigate and avoid hitting their panic buttons.

Panic Button is produced by 11 Television Canada in association with Bell Media. The series is directed by Leo Scherman, and produced by Dueck.  Healey and Jesse Fawcett are executive producers.

The 10-episode series will shoot until Oct. 19 in Toronto, and is slated to premiere on Space in 2013.