Winning formula
NICK GRIMSHAW, VICKY PATTISON AND PETE WICKS TELL INSIDE TV ABOUT A NEW REALITY CONTEST WITH A TWIST…
THE UNDERDOG: JOSH MUST WIN E4 9PM
Hi, all! How much did you know about the game before filming? Nick We didn’t see any of the housemates until we’d started filming. We knew we had to make Josh win, but not how. I also knew I’d have to go into the house and be the presenter, but I didn’t know when. So it was nice to do something where there was no script. Vicky We got so invested in the format. When I was [pretending to be one of the producers], the object was to disguise my voice, and nobody in there guessed it was me. But it was really nerve-wracking!
Pete It was nice to be the one in control for a change! But also, in reality TV, it’s big personalities and people that are generally very, very confident. The thing about this is you’ve got someone who’s not your stereotypical reality TV star, and is just himself. And that’s a beautiful thing.
How was it revealing the truth to the contestants when they left the house? Nick It was a funny one because breaking the news is nice news, but pulling that rug is unnerving. It’s like, “Surprise, you’ve not been on a show called The Favourite!” Then it’d be, “But you can still win loads of money!” The reveals were quite something. Vicky I don’t know how you did it, Nick. Every time they’d come through to our little Truman Show space, I was so nervous about how they’d react. But everybody got on board – and that’s what makes it brilliant.
Did you get any pointers from the eliminated housemates?
Pete We needed to get as much money as possible for everyone, so the insights that they gave us when they come out were really helpful. And them having an opportunity to help us with this goal of getting Josh to win was really important. Vicky I think, deep down, everyone could see what we saw in Josh. He might not look like he should be on Love Island or whatever, but he’s exactly what we all need to see on telly…