Latest news with #PeterSerafinowicz
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Reality check: three gripping shows that reveal the psychology of competition
"Battle Camp" season 1 cast. Image: Instagram. Over the past few weeks, I've swapped my usual line-up for some gripping reality TV competition shows on Netflix Think "Survivor", "The Mole" or "The Circle", but with a more refreshing take on things. And if I'm being honest, there were so many notable insights into human behaviour. First up was "Battle Camp", a mix of "Survivor" and "Wheel of Fortune", where the contestants are well-known stars from other shows such as "Squid Game: The Challenge", "Selling The OC" and "Too Hot to Handle". After being divided into teams, the Wolves, the Bears, and the Eagles, they feature in a mix of hair-raising physical challenges, group votes, and strategic gameplay to avoid elimination. Ultimately, contestants will need to be unbeatable, unbreakable and unhateable to have the chance of winning $250 000 (around R4.5 million). The show is a perfect blend of fun and nail-biting suspense. A scene from "Million Dollar Secret". Image: Instagram. Next up, "Million Dollar Secret". Hosted by British comedian Peter Serafinowicz, the series features twelve contestants, one of whom is secretly awarded a $1 000 000 prize at the start of the game. The contestant who finds it becomes the "Millionaire" and must conceal their identity for the duration of the game. The remaining contestants, known as "Hunters", aim to hunt down who is secretly holding the prize money. At the end of each episode, players vote to "lock out" the person they most suspect. If the Millionaire is eliminated, the money is re-hidden in a new box, and the game continues. Throughout the game, players must participate in trust-based challenges, alliance-building exercises, and "Secret Agendas," which are private missions that can influence power and suspicion in the house. The show incorporates elements of strategy, emotional intelligence and psychological deception. Cast of "The Trust". Image: Instagram. Then, "The Trust: A Game of Greed", heightened my fascination. Eleven strangers are offered $250 000 to split equally among themselves or to eliminate each other and eventually receive more money for themselves. Contestants play games that can add money to the prize pot. These include games that reveal secrets about each other or games that ask them to reveal their voting history. Some contestants are offered access to "The Vault", which allows them to take an offer which could benefit themselves or the group. "The Trust" explores human behaviour and psychology.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix renews 'most confusing game show' ever - completely dividing opinion after string of complaints
Netflix has renewed the 'most confusing game show' ever which has completely divided opinion after a string of complaints. Million Dollar Secret hit the streaming platform earlier this year and saw 12 strangers travel to a stunning mansion to battle it out for $1 million. Hosted by Guardians Of The Galaxy star Peter Serafinowic, only one of the contestants is given the cash and they have to keep it a secret from everyone else to go home with the huge prize. Some fans compared the show to BBC hit The Traitors as soon as the original trailer was released. It has now been confirmed that Million Dollar Secret will air a second season, but viewers are split over the decision. Netflix announced the renewal on X, formerly Twitter, and one watcher described it as 'the most confusing game show I have ever watched'. Hosted by Guardians Of The Galaxy star Peter Serafinowic, only one of the contestants is given the cash and they have to keep it a secret from everyone else to go home with the huge prize Others penned: 'The real secret is how this show got renewed.'; 'Dunno if it makes sense.'; 'Didn't work for me. Like they making the rules up as they went along.'; While others were thrilled about the return and seemed to have enjoyed the first season. One fan commented: 'YESSSS!! This show is actually amazing! Netflix, where do I apply for a role??'; 'Thank you. S1 was amazing.'; 'Nice, it was fun, Peter was a great host and the right person won the money!!!' When the first season was announced, fans immediately noticed the similarities to The Traitors. One wrote: 'This is a reality competition series, similar to The Traitors, where contestants try to hide or discover who has a hidden million dollars.' It has now been confirmed that Million Dollar Secret will see a second season but viewers are split Another replied to their comment with: 'Urg! The Traitors is soooo good! The UK and Canadian one is the best out of all the franchises... I started watching this one, I believe there is an OG of this show where it is a hotel and I stopped watching midway. I completely forgot about it.' A third added: 'A Traitors version of Do You Want To Be A Millionaire.' 'This is basically The Traitors on steroids, I'm here for it...,' a fourth chimed in. Million Dollar Secret is available to stream on Netflix.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Love on the Spectrum,' ‘Million Dollar Secret' Renewed at Netflix
Netflix has renewed 'Love on the Spectrum' and 'Million Dollar Secret' for a Season 4 and Season 2, respectively. Season 3 of 'Love on the Spectrum,' a dating show that follows young adults with autism, premiered on April 2 and ranked in the Global Top 10 for two weeks. The series, which also has two seasons of an Australian version, won two Emmys last year for reality program directing and casting. Before that, it won three Emmys in 2022. It's executive produced by Karina Holden and Cian O'Clery and produced by Northern Pictures. More from Variety Netflix to Launch New Competition Series 'Million Dollar Secret' With Host Peter Serafinowicz (EXCLUSIVE) In 'Million Dollar Secret,' hosted by Peter Serafinowicz, one of 12 contestants is given $1 million and must hold onto the money as rivals fight to hunt them down and claim it for themselves. 'Eliminate the millionaire and the money moves to someone new,' reads Netflix's description of the game, in part. 'When should they strike? Too soon and they become the target; too late and they may never get the money. Meanwhile, the millionaire can try to get rid of the cash if the heat becomes too much. This is a game of strategy and alliances, where predators can become prey in the blink of an eye.' Season 1 of 'Million Dollar Secret' debuted on March 26 with three episodes. The next two premiered on April 2 and the final two on April 9. Variety first announced the details of the series in May 2024. The first season consisted of eight 45-minute episodes. It's produced by Wheelhouse U.K. and Spoke Studios ('Love & WWE,' 'Buying Beverly Hills'). Charles Wachter serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Glenn Hugill, Will Nothacker, Russ Friedman, Joe Coleman and Pam Healey. Netflix also ordered 'Star Search,' a revival of the popular '80s and '90s show that launched the careers of Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and more. It will air live twice a week with a livestream that includes viewer voting that determines which contestants advance to the next round. 'Each episode will spotlight the best up-and-coming performers across four categories — music, dance, variety/comedy, kids — as they compete for their shot at stardom. With an arced competition structure and weekly eliminations, the series builds dramatic momentum, making every live episode an unmissable event,' reads the description. It's executive produced by Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt and Elaine Metaxas for Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Jason Raff as showrunner. The host, judges and premiere date will be announced at a later time. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
A-list actors bring stories to life for International Booker Prize video series
The prestigious award for works in translation, the International Booker Prize, has released a series of short films to highlight its six finalists, starring beloved UK actors In the lead up the 2025 International Booker Prize, the prestigious organisation has released a star-studded video series to spotlight its shortlist. The series includes six impeccably directed and visually captivating readings of the shortlist, performed by some of the UK's most well-known actors, actresses and comedians. Staring straight into camera, each star pulls viewers into the world of the book with an intimate two-minute reading. The six actors in the series include: Ambika Mod (One Day, This Is Going To Hurt); Lucy Boynton (Barbie, Bohemian Rhapsody); Peter Serafinowicz (Amandaland; Shaun of the Dead); Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses, Deep Water); Jamie Demetriou (Fleabag, Stath Lets Flats); and Omari Douglas (Black Doves, Rye Lane). Each video feels like a mini-movie. Lucy Boynton's reading of On the Calculation of Volume 1 features the actress sitting at a desk, head in hand, surrounded by dozens of half-drunk teacups as she takes on the voice of a bookseller trapped in a time loop. Peter Serafinowicz, off to the side of a quiet restaurant dining room, draws the camera in with his embodiment of an anguished narrator with an intense attachment to a platonic friend. You can watch all six videos on the Booker Prize Instagram page or YouTube channel. Each film in the series was directed by Roxy Rezvany, a BIFA and London Critics Circle- nominated director and producer. The online response to the mini-films has been spectacular, with many saying it's a brilliant way to bring in a new readership and market the books. One Instagram user commented on the directors' Instagram page: 'these films are excellent – it's been a long time since I've seen such an innovative approach to literature-related communication.' Other commenters pointed out that the films have helped them see the books in a new light. One user admitted that Mod's reading of Heart Lamp made her a convert: 'Okay I hadn't been immediately drawn to this one. That has changed.' The organisation has called its latest shortlist a feast of fiction from around the world that offers 'a miraculous lens through which to view human experience'. The books cover a range of topics including survival and self-preservation and are set in locations around the world. READ MORE: 8 books that will rekindle your love with reading for World Book Day 2025 The 2025 judging panel includes award-winning poets, authors and previous Booker winners, including: Max Porter; Caleb Femi; Wasafiri Sana Goyal; Anton Hur; and Beth Orton. The judges narrowed down their longlist of 13 books to this list of 6 short-listed books from 154 books published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 May 2024 and 30 April 2025. Max Porter says he and the other judges want people to feel inspired to converse when they read these books, and draw their own conclusions about them: ''We need literature that shocks, delights and baffles and reveals how weird many of us feel about the way we are living now. Ultimately, these books widen the view.' Porter continues: 'They enhance the quality of conversation we are all having. They don't shut down debate, they generate it. They don't have all the answers, but they ask extraordinary questions.' For the first time in the prize's history, all six shortlisted books are from independent publishers, according to the Booker website. The shortlist also reflects the work of authors and translators from around the world, including Denmark, England, Japan, India, Scotland, France and Italy. The winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize will be announced on May 20, 2025 at a ceremony at the Tate Modern in London. What is the International Booker Prize? The annual prize celebrates the best works of long-form fiction and short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland. It is considered the 'world's most influential award for translation fiction" and previous winners include: The Vegetarian by Han Kang (2016), Flights by Olga Tokarczuk (2018), and The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld (2020. Last year's winner was Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck. International Booker Prize Shortlist 2025 On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I watched the American rip-off of The Traitors and it made me mad'
It feels like the on-sale version of The Traitors. The stakes aren't that high, the tasks not as intense, and the contestants don't seem to want to be there. If you live in the UK or are even the remotest fan of British television, chances are you've heard of The Traitors. It's the show where contestants arrive at a castle, a few of them are branded as traitors, and then they all spend several weeks competing in tasks and adding money to the prize pot, but most importantly, the traitors spend their time lying, deceiving, recruiting, and (figuratively) killing the other contestants, known as the Faithfuls - all while trying to keep their identities a secret. Hosted by Queen of the Macabre, Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors is a dramatic slice of top-tier reality TV and few other reality game shows come close. I know this because I recently binge-watched what could loosely be dubbed the American version of The Traitors. I say loosely, because there's actually an official US version of The Traitors. No. This is a story about Million Dollar Secret. Netflix's feeble attempt at a Traitors-esque reality game show - which on all accounts - falls flat. The concept is the same. Contestants arrive at a château called The Stag, one of them is secretly chosen to be the millionaire and given a box with cold, hard cash, and then said contestant has to spend the entirety of the show keeping their identity a secret from the other players while they all compete in tasks and receive various advantages. As with The Traitors, the millionaire can change and also be caught and voted out. This is aided by the show's ever-helpful producers who give out clues so pointed and obvious, they may as well label the secret millionaire and draw a neon arrow on their clothes. Hosted in a rather sombre fashion by English actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz, Million Dollar Secret feels like the on-sale version of The Traitors. The stakes just don't seem that high. The tasks don't feel that intense. And the contestants - well, they just don't seem like they're all that interested in participating in a reality game show. Half-hearted attempts at tasks that aren't too exciting to begin with (Remembering a few symbols and inputting them in a padlock? Slingshotting colour-filled balloons at a wall? Dropping song titles in conversation? Hugging everyone?) If this isn't enough to turn you off, it appears that none of the players actually want to be the secret millionaire in the first place. Every time a new millionaire is chosen, contestants confess to the camera just how badly they don't want to be burdened with the role. Everyone wants the cash handed to them towards the end, when the numbers have dwindled and the task of keeping one's identity a secret is much easier. Where's the fun in that? My biggest pet-peeve with Million Dollar Secret is how personally the contestants take the lying. It seems that no one read the rules of the game before appearing on the show, because how can you be mad at the millionaire for lying and keeping their identity a secret? It is literally the purpose of the game. This transparently shameless rip-off of The Traitors may have copied the format of the show, but it wasn't able to emulate the intense, gripping excitement, and quite frankly, the brains, of its British counterpart. And critics and audiences couldn't agree more. While one critic review said, "Million Dollar Secret is transparently, baldly, shamelessly The Traitors", another called it "a lazy, one-note ripoff of The Traitors". An X user (formerly Twitter) commented: "Million Dollar Secret on Netflix wants to be Traitors soooooo bad" and another wrote, "Million Dollar Secret is a very poor man's Traitors. Also, it's so badly one-sided against the person who has it with badly done games and clues."
