From The Circle to
Love Island, ‘shocking’ twists don’t fool contestants – or viewers. Surely the best dramas occur when people are allowed to be themselves
Channel 4’s mind-bending social media-based reality show The Circle continues to go from strength to strength, with season three’s closing episode airing last week and finding 1.24 million viewers – its most-watched finale ever. Since 2018, the show has garnered a dedicated following, with a second US series screening at the end of the month.
Like many of the best reality shows, it sounds ridiculous on paper and is utter genius on screen. The premise appears convoluted, yet it’s simple: it is a popularity contest in the most literal sense. Contestants battle it out for £100k, sucking up and scheming their way to the final. The cast live in the same apartment building but can’t meet, and rate each other based on their carefully curated profiles. The most popular players come out on top as “influencers”, complete with blue ticks and the ability to “block” their rivals.