A quickie with... Alice Levine & Maya Jama

What attracted you to presenting The Circle?

Maya: I’m a social media and reality TV addict, so combining them is pretty much my dream.

Alice: It’s not like anything I’ve worked on or watched, so it feels thrilling . It’s about the judgments we make and the versions of ourselves we put forward.

How truthful is your own online identity?

A: Well, I have a secret family and I’m actually a counterfeiter. But apart from that, I’m transparent. Do I post pics of my overflowing laundry basket? No, I’ll probably post a pic of the finished meal looking pretty. We’re all skewed in what we show. It’s a snapshot rather than the full picture.

Maya, you recently said your Insta was getting “too posey” and put up a less flattering pic. Why?

M: I try to make my Instagram reflect how I really am and I don’t always look glamorous and dolled-up. So, I thought, “Right, I’m going to put up a silly pic that’s not pristine or filtered.” It’s also a self-protective thing. I feel like nobody can get any ugly pictures of me because I’ve posted worse.

Have either of you ever used dating apps?

A: I dipped my toe in at the dawn of the dating app, when you had to crank up a handle. I think I was one of the first people on there. It’s not very good if the pool’s really small.

M: When I was single years ago, I matched with someone and used a technique that I think is great for online dating. I sent a video to the guy I was meeting, saying, “Hi, this is me. Just sending this so you know I’m real and not a catfish. Can you send one back?” He did and so we weren’t shocked when we met and I knew he didn’t have a weird squeaky voice!