Entertainment
Where are the winners of The Circle now?
The Circle is returning for its third series with nine new civilian contestants competing for prize money by becoming the most popular.
A YouTuber, a father-daughter duo and actual Hunter from Gladiators are just some of this year’s flatmates, who will be living just meters away from each other without ever meeting.
The twist is that the contestants can either play as themselves, or catfish as someone else they think will make them more popular.
At the end of the competition the contestant with the most votes will become the winner, taking home a tidy £100,000.
Before the new set of flatmates enter the game, let’s take a look back at the past winners – only two so far – and what they’ve got up to since the show.
Series one – Alex Hobern
Alex was the first ever winner of The Circle in 2018, playing the game as a woman called Kate.
He did bag the prize money, however it slightly backfired when he catfished fellow contestant Dan, who shared a bit of flirtation with ‘Kate’ over the course of the series.
Alex is still continuing his comedy, and now hosts The Circle’s official podcast, interviewing the stars of this year’s celebrity series.
He recently shared a loved up photo with girlfriend Millie, who he used for his profile picture in the game three years ago, for Valentine’s Day this year.
Series two – Paddy Smyth
Paddy received a huge £70,000 when the other flatmates – which included Zoe Ball and Fatboy Slim star Norman Cook’s teenage son Woody – voted for who they wanted to see land the cash prize.
The sales account manager was a late arrival, explaining he entered the show to see if he could connect with people without being judged on his disability, with Paddy having cerebral palsy in his legs.
Since winning in 2019, Paddy is continuing his work as activist, highlighting the LGBTQ+ community and issues surrounding disability.
He also fronts the unofficial The Circle Podcast with Seamus Clancy.
Series two viewers’ champion – Tim Wilson
The final of series two came with a twist, as viewers had the final say in who got to win £30,000.
The honour went to Professor Tim Wilson who became a favourite for his intelligence, wit and warmth.
Writing in The i before the launch of series three, Tim said he hoped going forward there would be more support for people who appear on reality TV.
‘We must make every effort to ensure the TV programming we put out nationally is safe, and that viewers can be comfortable watching it,’ he said.
‘We have to ensure that reality TV merits proper independent support for participants. Exposure on TV should be life-enhancing. If this is an industry worth saving – and I think it is – it is professionalism that is needed.’
The Circle returns tonight at 9.15pm on Channel 4.
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