The Circle is currently gracing us with a celebrity special for Stand Up To Cancer, but the third season of the civilian edition is just around the corner.
Before the third season kicks-off at 9:15 PM on Channel 4 on Tuesday 16 March, get to know the new cast members below.
ANDY SMITH
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Company Director
FROM: Solihull
PLAYING AS: Himself
Motivation: “My motivation is to show that you can win it with a bit of integrity. I really want to get a catfish to admit to me that they’re a catfish. I don’t know what I would do with that information, but that is my ultimate aim. I’d class that as winning.”
BILLY DAWSON
AGE: 18
OCCUPATION: Sports Marketing
FROM: Essex
PLAYING AS: Himself
Motivation: “The prize money! I do also like the game – The Circle is different to everything else, it’s very unique so I thought, why not?”
HASHU MOHAMMED
AGE: 28
OCCUPATION: YouTuber
FROM: Birmingham
PLAYING AS: His Uncle Syed
Motivation: “From a young age I loved pranking people. I’ve always been the one in the house that makes everyone else laugh. This is the perfect opportunity for me to put my pranking and catfishing abilities to the test and entertain the British public, whilst hopefully getting a cash injection!”
JAMES CROSSLEY
AGE: 46
OCCUPATION: Strength coach
FROM: London
PLAYING AS: NHS Nurse Gemma
Motivation: “I’ve always been somebody who’s enjoyed different challenges, I started off bodybuilding and then I went into Gladiators. After that I went into acting and competing in strongman. Most of the challenges I’ve done have been quite body crushing. I think The Circle will be an interesting challenge to try and get away with playing somebody else, it uses different muscles to what I’m used to. I also really want to take this opportunity to give back to NHS nurses, winning the prize money would give me the chance to show my gratitude for all their hard work.”
JAMIE AND MILLIE
AGE: 57 & 20
OCCUPATION: Therapist & Student
FROM: Hampshire
PLAYING AS: 49 year old Penny
Motivation: “It’s just one of the most unique games you can go into. With social media nowadays, it’s all about the way you present yourself. So to go in and get to know someone, without seeing fully who the person is, is quite refreshing.” – Millie
MANRIKA KHARIA
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Recruitment (& TikTok)
FROM: Birmingham
PLAYING AS: Herself
Motivation: “I’ve been judged my whole life for the way I live because I come from an Indian background. My parents and family are very westernised but it’s the wider society, the way that I live isn’t the expectation of what an Indian girl should be. So, I’m going on to show that you can still live your life, have that social media lifestyle and also be a respectable girl.”
TALLY BRATTLE
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Doctor’s Receptionist
FROM: Worthing
PLAYING AS: Herself
Motivation: “I have built this Instagram that doesn’t really represent me as a person. I’m kind of embarrassed of my own Instagram. I really want to go on The Circle to strip everything back and be perceived as my normal quirky self rather than these posey, edited pictures. I want to see if you are really only accepted if you look a certain way.”
VITHUN ILLANKOVAN
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Accountant
FROM: London
PLAYING AS: Himself
Motivation: “I have always been a fan of reality TV. I live for drama, chaos and anarchy! There has never been an Asian winner of a civilian reality TV show in the UK, I want to try and make history.”
YOLANDA THOMAS
AGE: 30
OCCUPATION: Dating Agent
FROM: London
PLAYING AS: Her husband Chris
Motivation: “To win the money. I could make Chris’s dream come true and launch a landscaping firm. A lot of people feel the world has given up on them and we want to help give people the opportunity to succeed and grow by learning a trade.”
The Circle season 3 premieres on Tuesday, March 16 at 9.15 PM on Channel 4.
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