The Circle (British TV series) series 1 explained

Series Number:1
Network:Channel 4
Module1:
Num Days:21
Num Contestants:15
Winner:
  • Alex "Kate" Hobern
Runner Up:
  • Freddie Bentley
Label1:Other finalists
Data1:
  • Sian Owen
  • Dan Mosaku
Num Episodes:18

The first series of The Circle began on 18 September 2018 on Channel 4,[1] and concluded after 21 days with a live final on 8 October 2018.[2] This series was hosted by Alice Levine and Maya Jama on both the launch and the final, and was narrated by Sophie Willan. Ahead of the series it was announced that players would be competing against each other to become the most popular, but would never actually meet. Instead they would communicate through a specially designed app and be able to portray themselves in any way they choose.[3] The series launched with a total of 1,607,000 including +1 catch-up services.[4] It concluded with 1,125,000.

On 8 October 2018, the series was won by Alex Hobern, who had played the game claiming to be a 25-year-old woman called Kate, using photos of his real-life girlfriend Millie. Alex also won the "viewers champion" for an additional £25,000, claiming £75,000 in total. Freddie Bentley was the series runner-up.[5]

Following this series, it was announced that Alice and Maya would not be returning for the second, with Emma Willis taking over the role as presenter instead.

Players

The contestants taking part in the series were revealed on 18 September 2018.[6] However throughout the series more players joined The Circle.

--- Please do not change the width this allows the table to scale within page margins based on display. --->NameAgeHometownPlaying asEnteredExitedStatus
Jennifer Freeman40NewcastleHerself, but a doctor and younger (34)Episode 1Episode 2Blocked
Mitchell Palmer22NorfolkHimselfEpisode 1Episode 4Blocked
Sinead Edwards22South Wales"Christopher", a 65-year-old retired antiques dealerEpisode 3Episode 6Blocked
Aiden Bradbury19WakefieldHerselfEpisode 1Episode 6Blocked
Genelle Perkins31LondonHerself, but not revealing that she's a mother with her daughterEpisode 1Walked
Hannah Rosie Steadman27LondonHerselfEpisode 7Blocked
Ryan Gooding28IpswichHimselfEpisode 5Blocked
Mairead Martin57CheshireHerself, but younger (32), and using another woman's photosBlocked
Precious Muir34LondonHerself, but younger (25)Blocked
Scotty Forrester36LondonHimself, but younger (31)Episode 7Blocked
Harry Southern22South ShieldsHimselfBlocked
Dan Mosaku28LondonHimselfEpisode 1
Sian Owen20LondonA “Plain Jane” version of herselfEpisode 1Third place
Freddie Bentley20EssexHimself, but straight and older (24)Episode 1Runner-up
Alex Hobern26London"Kate", a 25-year-old womanEpisode 1Winner

Results and elimination

For the first series, the contestants rated one another out of five throughout. At the end of each ratings their average scores were revealed from highest to lowest to the players. The two highest rated players became "influencers", while the remaining players were at risk of being "blocked" by the influencers.

style="background:pink; border:1px solid black"
     The contestant was blocked.
     The contestant was an influencer.
     The contestant was immune from being rated and blocked.
Episode 2Episode 4Episode 6Episode 10Episode 12Episode 13Episode 15Episode 16Episode 17Episode 18
Final
Alex
"Kate"
3.28
3.41
2.86
2.71
2.50
2.71
3.50
Not
published
2.50
3.00
Winner
Freddie2.71
2.43
3.14
2.86
2.83
3.14
3.33
Not
published
3.00
2.67
Runner-up
(Episode 18)
Sian3.00
3.14
2.43
3.00
3.17
3.29
4.00
Not
published
4.25
2.33
Third place
(Episode 18)
Dan3.14
2.86
3.71
2.86
2.83
3.43
3.83
Not
published
2.75
2.00

(Episode 18)
HarryNot in
The Circle
Exempt2.33
Not
published
1.50
Blocked
(Episode 17)
ScottyNot in
The Circle
2.71
3.17
2.86
3.50
Not
published
Blocked
(Episode 16)
PreciousNot in
The Circle
Exempt2.00
Blocked
(Episode 15)
MaireadNot in
The Circle
Exempt2.57
Blocked
(Episode 13)
RyanNot in
The Circle
Exempt2.57
2.50
Blocked
(Episode 12)
HannahNot in
The Circle
2.29
Blocked
(Episode 10)
Genelle3.00
2.71
3.14
Walked
(Episode 10)
Aiden2.86
2.57
2.57
Blocked
(Episode 6)
Sinead
"Christopher"
Not in
Exempt2.00
Blocked
(Episode 6)
Mitchell2.43
2.86
Blocked
(Episode 4)
Jennifer2.28
Blocked
(Episode 2)
Notesnone12none34none
InfluencersAlex,
Dan
Alex,
Sian
Dan,
Freddie,
Genelle
noneScotty,
Sian
Dan,
Sian
noneSiannone
WalkednoneGenelle none
BlockedJennifer
Influencers'
choice to block
Mitchell
Influencers'
choice to block
Sinead
"Christopher"

Influencers'
choice to block
Hannah
Lowest
rated player
Ryan
Influencers'
choice to block
Mairead
Influencers'
choice to block
Precious
3 of 5
votes to block
Scotty
Super-influencer's
choice to block
Harry
Lowest
rated player
Dan

rated player
Sian
Third highest
Aiden
Influencer's
choice to block
Freddie

Alex
"Kate"

Highest
rated player

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet The Circle contestants - the deceptive social media-inspired reality show. 18 September 2018.
  2. Web site: The Circle's finale date isn't far away. Capital.
  3. Web site: The Circle on Channel 4: What is The Circle and when is it on?. Laura. Donaldson. 3 October 2018. OK! Magazine.
  4. Web site: BARB – Weekly Top 30 Programmes: ITV2 Total. 28 December 2012.
  5. Web site: Who won The Circle 2018 and what is the prize for the show?. Heart.
  6. Web site: Meet The Circle contestants - the deceptive social media-inspired reality show. 18 September 2018. The Metro.