Latest news with #TheMole
IOL News
6 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.
South Wales Argus
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Deal or No Deal's banker revealed as Coronation Street star
The banker's identity was kept under wraps during the game show time on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2016. But it's now been confirmed that the banker was played by the executive producer, Glenn Hugill, who is also a Coronation Street star. The Corrie star voiced the banker when the show was on Channel 4. (Image: ITV) Deal or No Deal reveals identity of the banker as Corrie star Glenn is best known for appearing on the ITV soap Coronation Street from 1996 to 1997. During his time on the show, the actor appeared in 86 episodes and played the role of detective Alan, who dated Fiona Middleton and the two were meant to marry. But the couple's marriage was called off when Jim McDonald revealed his affair with Fiona, seeing Alan leave her and the show. Glenn has also appeared in the likes of The Upper Hand, Chandler & Co. and Dalziel and Pascoe. In 2001, the actor turned to presenting and hosted the show, The Mole. According to the Mirror, in 2023, Glenn sold his production company, Possessed, to ITV and became the C.C.O of Wheelhouse, which was founded by Jimmy Kimmel. Glenn is said to have been the banker on Deal or No Deal for 10 years before the show ended on Channel 4. Recommended Reading The gameshow returned, making the move to ITV1 with Stephen Mulhern as host. Although viewers don't know who is behind the voice of the current banker, Stephen has hinted at their identity in the past. Previously sharing: "I don't know who the Banker is. So I wouldn't be able to recognise who it was. So, he could walk past me at any point."
The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Deal or No Deal's banker revealed as Coronation Street star
But it's now been confirmed that the banker was played by the executive producer, Glenn Hugill, who is also a Coronation Street star. The Corrie star voiced the banker when the show was on Channel 4. (Image: ITV) Deal or No Deal reveals identity of the banker as Corrie star Glenn is best known for appearing on the ITV soap Coronation Street from 1996 to 1997. During his time on the show, the actor appeared in 86 episodes and played the role of detective Alan, who dated Fiona Middleton and the two were meant to marry. But the couple's marriage was called off when Jim McDonald revealed his affair with Fiona, seeing Alan leave her and the show. Glenn has also appeared in the likes of The Upper Hand, Chandler & Co. and Dalziel and Pascoe. In 2001, the actor turned to presenting and hosted the show, The Mole. According to the Mirror, in 2023, Glenn sold his production company, Possessed, to ITV and became the C.C.O of Wheelhouse, which was founded by Jimmy Kimmel. Glenn is said to have been the banker on Deal or No Deal for 10 years before the show ended on Channel 4. Recommended Reading The gameshow returned, making the move to ITV1 with Stephen Mulhern as host. Although viewers don't know who is behind the voice of the current banker, Stephen has hinted at their identity in the past. Previously sharing: "I don't know who the Banker is. So I wouldn't be able to recognise who it was. So, he could walk past me at any point."
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Moments in Maturation: ‘Thumbelina'
Growing up can be extremely scary, yet, in his fairy tale ' An old woman wishes to have a little child of her own, so she asks a witch how to get one. In response, the witch gives her a seed and tells her to plant it. A beautiful flower grows from the seed and, when the flower finally opens, it reveals a little girl inside. The delighted old woman decides to call her Thumbelina, since she is no bigger than a thumb. The Toad Thumbelina lives happily with the old woman, until one night she is kidnapped by a toad. The toad has decided that she will be an excellent wife for its son, so it subsequently whisks her away to a muddy marsh. Thumbelina wakes to find herself floating on a water lily in the middle of the stream. She learns of her marriage to the toad's ugly, slimy son. Frightened, Thumbelina begins crying at her terrible, unescapable fate. A distraught Thumbelina is depicted in the 1872 original telling of "Thumbelina" by Hans Christian Andersen. Public Domain Yet, upon hearing her crying, the fish below pity her and cut the water lily free. So, down the stream Thumbelina drifts, happy and free from the toads. The May Bug As Thumbelina drifts down the river, a May bug spots her, swoops down, grabs her, and takes her to the top of a tree. The May bug feeds her honey and tells 'her how pretty she is, considering that she doesn't look the least like a May bug.' However, other May bugs come to see Thumbelina and begin criticizing her. They say how ugly she is. Their negative comments finally sway the May bug so that it agrees with them. It carries Thumbelina to the bottom of the tree, and abandons her there. Related Stories 4/19/2025 4/18/2025 Left alone and scared, Thumbelina fends for herself throughout summer and fall. But, when winter arrives, Thumbelina has neither shelter, nor warm clothing. She wanders into a large grain field, where she finds a field mouse's home. Pitying Thumbelina, the kind-hearted mouse welcomes her in and offers her a warm place to live. Thumbelina becomes acquainted with the mouse and the mole, in this 1900 illustration from the Andersen Tegner retelling of "Thumbelina." Public Domain The Mole Soon after Thumbelina's arrival, the field mouse's neighbor, the Mole, visits. Thumbelina isn't impressed with him, because he cannot see, doesn't like sunlight or bird song, and abandons a frozen swallow discovered in his tunnels. Secretly, she nurses the swallow back to health until it flies away. The mole admires her and eventually proposes, leaving Thumbelina disappointed and dejected. She does not accept but she feels she has no choice. Finally, the day of the marriage arrives. Thumbelina steps outside to take a last glimpse of the sunlight before descending into the burrow forever. She mourns her fate. Suddenly, Thumbelina hears chirping above her. The swallow that she had helped comes down to her. Unable to hold back her tears, she tells it of her impending wedding. In this 1900 illustration by Andersen Tegner, Thumbelina flies away on the swallow's back, while the mouse and the mole watch from below. Public Domain The swallow offers to save her and carry her away to a distant, warmer place. Overjoyed, Thumbelina quickly climbs onto the swallow's back and the two set off. The King Thumbelina and the swallow finally arrive at the swallow's home in the south. It places Thumbelina on a large white flower and flies to its perch in an ancient marble temple. In the flower, Thumbelina meets a young, tiny king, who rules the spirits of the flowers. Taken with each other, they soon fall in love and marry, living happily ever after. Through this charming story, Andersen showed how Thumbelina maintains her virtue and goodness as she experiences these moments in maturation. And, because she never abandons her virtue, even when scared and hopeless, she merits the beautiful, happy ending to her story. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Tiger King Joe Exotic gets married behind bars as romantic wedding gesture & new husband's rap sheet revealed
Exotic hopes the partnership will bring his lover a better life LOVE AFTER LOCKUP Tiger King Joe Exotic gets married behind bars as romantic wedding gesture & new husband's rap sheet revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER reality TV star Joe Exotic has tied the knot with a fellow inmate after proving his love with a romantic gesture. The Tiger King star, Joe Exotic, 62, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage met Jorge Marquez Flores as they serve time in federal prison. 4 Tiger King star Joe Exotic tied the knot with fellow inmate Jorge Marquez Flores Credit: SERENA DC THE EXOTIC TRUTH 4 Exotic claimed their marriage license needed approval from the warden, psychiatrist, and chaplain Credit: AFP 4 He first shared their engagement back in October, calling Jorge "so amazing" and revealing he's from Mexico Credit: SERENA DC THE EXOTIC TRUTH The wedding took place at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, where both men are locked up. The reckless former zoo keeper, was convicted in 2019 for a murder-for-hire plot against his longtime rival Carole Baskin. Exotic is currently five years into a 21-year sentence. Exotic announced the wedding news Tuesday on X with a photoshopped image of the couple in suits. "Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado," he wrote. He first shared their engagement back in October, calling Jorge "so amazing" and revealing he's from Mexico. Jorge, 33, is serving time on immigration-related charges. He was working as a driver when he was arrested and charged in 2024 with illegally re-entering the US after previously being deported, according to federal court documents filed in Texas. Exotic submitted a formal application to prison officials to marry Jorge. He claimed their marriage license needed approval from the warden, psychiatrist, and chaplain. Netflix's The Mole Season 2 Cast The Mole initially aired on ABC before moving to Netflix in 2022. Here's the cast of the show's second season, which premiered on June 28, 2024. Deanna Thompson Andy Minzter Jennifer Dasilva-Hassiman Sean Patrick Bryan Tony Castellanos Michael O'Brien Muna Abdulahi Melissa Lummus Quaylyn Carter Ryan Warner Neesh Riaz Hannah Burns "Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we be leaving America when we both get out," Exotic wrote on social media. "Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago." 'Whether it helps his immigration status or not, we love each other enough to get married. We even got tattooed matching wedding bands already on," Exotic told Radar. "What it would do is, it would assure him, and it would show the court, that he has a little bit of financial stability to stay in America." "It's gonna look better for his asylum case to be married. We're just hoping that the prison will allow us to get married and stay in the same prison," he added. 'He gets out in May of next year so that gives us seven months to get my appeal done and find out where I'm at. We're hoping to be able to walk out the door close to the same time." During an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun Exotic sobbed claiming he wants to "die immediately behind bars" if he is separated from Mexican inmate Jorge Marquez. Crying down the phone from his Texas jail, Exotic admitted: "All I pray for today is just let God end this for me." EXOTIC DATING HISTORY Exotic has previously had multiple partners, and he didn't shy away from discussing them. Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we be leaving America when we both get out" "I've been through some s**t in my days. I buried two husbands, the third one ran off with $2.6 million bucks from Netflix and left my a here," he said. "But Jorge is a very amazing young man." Exotic was previously married to Travis Maldonado, who died in 2017 after accidentally shooting himself. Maldonado was 19 when he arrived at Exotic's zoo in 2013, hoping the animal work would help with his drug addiction. The two tied the knot alongside John Finlay in a three-way wedding shortly after Travis' arrival. Travis was 32 years younger than Exotic and died at age 23. Just two months after his death, Exotic began dating Dillon Passage. Exotic and Dillon married in December 2017, but parted ways in 2020 and filed for divorce the following year. In December 2022, Exotic said: "Just waiting on the final order from the judge!" Dillon, a Texan bartender posted that it took 'four drafts' for Exotic to finally sign the paperwork. "It's been a battle and tens of thousands of dollars spent over the past year and a half trying to be released from my own kind of prison," Dillon wrote. TMZ reported that Dillon is now barred from using or profiting from Joe's likeness and is under a non-disparagement order. EXOTIC COURT APPEAL The couple is still holding out hope Exotic's appeal will overturn his conviction, Daily Mail reported. He insists he has new evidence including "video confessions under oath" and "700 phone recordings of federal agents." He's also made multiple public pleas for a presidential pardon. 'I wish someone that is President or wins the Presidency would do the right thing and pardon me so I could move past this nightmare that my own country has caused for the last 7 years of my life,' Exotic said. "All I did was build a zoo and some people were very jealous. Then I was put into prison by my own country." Exotic rose to fame through the hit Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which spotlighted his wild lifestyle and bitter feud with animal rights activist Baskin. In 2019, he was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire targeting Carole Baskin. His sentence was later reduced to 21 years after a court ruled the murder counts were wrongly treated as separate.
