Bluey to be made into a ‘lifestyle brand' by BBC
The Emmy -winning Australian cartoon has already generated significant retail success, contributing to BBC Studios ' record £2.16bn in commercial sales last year.
Suzy Raia, head of global consumer products at BBC Studios, stated the aim is to make Bluey a 'generation-defining brand' and expand into the 'adult space'.
Bluey's global popularity is evident, being the most-watched show across all genres in the US in 2024, with over 1 billion music streams and 21 million social media subscribers.
There is already a immersive theatre production, Bluey's World, and a feature film, Bluey the Movie, set for release in 2027.
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The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Maya Jama in fresh career boost after her seven-figure net worth surges thanks to booming beauty mask firm
LOVE Island host Maya Jama will be made up as her beauty brand has helped her rake in a fortune of £2million. Sales of her face masks and eye patches are booming, with profits up nearly 25 per cent last year. 3 3 Companies House documents show that MIJ Masks now has net assets of £313,381, up by £75,000 from 2023. Added to assets of £1.83million from her telly and advertising work through MIJ & Co Entertainment, it means Maya, 30, is worth more than £2million. Maya — who last night wore a black and white love heart mini dress to present ITVX's Love Island AfterSun — launched the bio-cellulose face mask and eye patches brand in 2021. The anti-wrinkle masks are available online for £17.99 and patches for £7.99. Unveiling the range four years ago, Maya said: 'It took two years to get this right. "I wanted something with super high quality ingredients that wasn't as expensive as other masks. 'You shouldn't cut corners anywhere but especially in beauty.' Maya is reportedly paid £750,000 for each series of Love Island and earned upward of £50,000 for co-hosting this year's Brit Awards. She was also part of the presenting line-up for this year's Comic Relief. In the past few weeks we revealed she had landed an acting role in Netflix's The Gentlemen and is in talks with streaming giant Prime Video to host a new entertainment show. Maya works with brands including Rimmel London cosmetics and Beauty Works hair extensions and has also put her name to ad campaigns for Adidas and Gordon's Gin. Some 2.5million tune into each episode of Love Island and more than 100million have streamed the latest series online.
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Katie Price, 47, displays her extreme weight loss in a tiny green thong bikini during Dubai holiday before returning to the UK to have filler in her bum
Katie Price showcased off her extreme weight loss in a skimpy green bikini on a Dubai holiday before revealing her plans to have filler in her bum. The former glamour model, 47, who has had at least 16 boob jobs, showed off her jaw-dropping assets in a halterneck top and matching bottoms. Katie showed off her heavily tattooed body as she relaxed by her hotel swimming pool. The TV personality kept cool by tying her long dark tresses in a neat ponytail and wore a pair of pink sliders. She looked in good spirits as she relaxed in the swimming pool before sitting on the pool steps to soak up the sunshine. Katie, who recently returned to the UK from the trip, later sat on her sun lounger in the patterned bikini. The mother-of-five has recently been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss. Katie has had three rhinoplasties and multiple facelifts - her most recent being her sixth £10,000 face lift in January. After recently returning home, Katie took to her Instagram Stories to reveal she has had her lip filler redone and filler added to her bottom. Sharing a video from the clinic, she said: 'I'm having filler done in my lips not to much though and having my bum done and after I'm getting the train back and taking Harvey to his new place. 'See if I had a BBL in Turkey they'd put me to sleep and it's more dangerous cause they use your own fat and this is just filler and I'm here for an hour and a half and go back home and carry on with my day.' Showing off her lips, she added: 'See I've not had my lips done to big today, gone a bit more classy'. In another clip, the star lay on the beautician bed showing off the results of the filler in her bottom as she wore a pink lace thong. She joked: 'BBL on your lunch hour'. The mother-of-five has recently been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss as she wore the tiny swimwear She wore a pair of pink Christian Dior sliders She looked in good spirits as she relaxed in the swimming pool before sitting on the pool steps to soak up the sunshine Katie - who has previously admitted she suffers with body dysmorphia - is believed to have spent over £130k on cosmetic surgery over the years, with the model saying she has no plans to slow down. It comes after Katie revealed that she pulled from a passport queue by airport officials in order to have her documents checked after they 'couldn't recognise her' due to her extensive plastic surgery. She was recently on holiday in Dubai but when coming back through the airport to return to the UK she noticed staff kept looking at her. Speaking to her sister, Sophie Price, in a recent episode of The Katie Price Show she explained the 'funny story'. She said: 'I've got a funny story. Coming back through the airport I'm queuing to do the passport control, and even when you go through you feel like they look at you a bit. 'And they kept looking at me and you get more awkward and become more twitchy don't you! And the man said 'come with me'. And there were so many people in the queue and I had queued for so long... 'But I was like I'll lift my chin up I know I've done nothing wrong, then they took me to this visa place and they told me to sit down. So I sat down and I was just watching horse videos... 'But my flight wasn't for an hour and a half so I didn't mind as it's better than walking around an airport getting anxiety that people are looking at me. It comes after Katie revealed that she pulled from a passport queue by airport officials in order to have her documents checked after they 'couldn't recognise her' due to her extensive plastic surgery She was recently on holiday in Dubai but when coming back through the airport to return to the UK she noticed staff kept looking at her 'And they kept looking at me and you get more awkward and become more twitchy don't you! And the man said 'come with me', she said 'And there were so many people in the queue and I had queued for so long... But I was like I'll lift my chin up I know I've done nothing wrong, then they took me to this visa place and they told me to sit down' 'So I sat down and I was just watching horse videos... But my flight wasn't for an hour and a half so I didn't mind as it's better than walking around an airport getting anxiety that people are looking at me' She added: 'I told him that I didn't look like my passport picture as I've had my face done so many times. 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Katie added that she also encounters problems with the electronic passport checks, which she says often say 'seek assistance' as they 'obviously don't recognise' her photo. She also revealed that in Dubai, she'd told them that she viewed it as a 'compliment', as when you look at her age, she doesn't 'really look like that'. Katie has had at least 16 boob jobs, three rhinoplasties and two facelifts and has been sparking concern with her extreme weight loss of late.
BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rob Brydon on how he would have fared aboard the Destination X bus, as the contestants share their strengths, strategies, and just how far they're willing to go to win
Destination X is a brand new competitive reality format played out over an incredible journey through Europe - a journey where things are not what they seem. Rob Brydon is the gamesmaster who takes thirteen contributors onboard the X-bus and asks them one simple question - where the X are they? With blacked out windows all they have to do is try and deduce where in the world they are because at the end of every episode they must place an X on a map. Whoever puts their X furthest away from the location is immediately thrown off the X-bus and eliminated from the competition. In the end one walks away with a cash prize of £100,000. Each of the 10 episodes sees Rob take the adventurers on another incredible leg of the journey - a fantastical trek that turns Europe into a board game with twists and turns around every corner. Epic challenges offer clues to those smart enough to figure them out, but players - and viewers! - beware, there are also some red herrings scattered around. Who will figure out where in the world they really are? And will the players decide to share information or send each other in the wrong direction? And viewers can join in and play along at home. So can you guess where Destination X is? Destination X launches on Wednesday 30 July at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. There will be two episodes a week, airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays. LW Interview with Rob Brydon Can you tell us about the concept of Destination X? The show sees 13 people travel around Europe on a very special bus. The windows of the bus are opaque for most of the time but can suddenly become clear at the flick of a switch, albeit very briefly. The players have to learn to live with each other and to complete challenges to win clues as to where on earth they are. At the end of each episode, they all go into a very special 'map room' that is hidden away on the bus and they have to place their X on the map trying to guess where they are. Whoever is furthest away from our actual location or Destination X has to leave. What made you want to be a part of the show? I've never done a TV show on this scale before. I loved the idea of it, the combination of having to work out clues as to where you are and having to get on with each other. It struck me as the best bits of The Traitors with the best bits of Race Across the World. The other thing that attracted me was the scale of it and being a part of a show as ambitious as this, with as huge a crew and as huge a team. I knew it would be a real challenge to see if I could steer that ship. We've not seen you do anything like this before, and you're so integral to the show as you're part of the game. How was that for you? I was surprised at how invested I became in it; it didn't take long at all to get really fully invested in it. You get involved with the contestants and you feel for them when they are struggling, and you celebrate with them when they do well. It was a far more involving experience than I was expecting. It must have been hard for you when you're in certain situations not to react or give any clues away to the players. How did you find that? Yes, that really was a challenge, because all the time when we are out and about on our travels, they are trying to keep players in the dark, so they aren't allowed to see anything but more importantly to hear anything. For example, if a crew member went off to buy a coffee, they had to be careful not to come back with a branded coffee cup that might give away the name of where they were. I remember once we were at a particular location and I knew that in a few days' time we would be at another location and I said to somebody in the production team: 'Oh I can't wait until we get to X' and then I suddenly realised one of the players was close and I thought 'Oh no what have you done' - Luckily, they didn't hear me! Tell us about the challenges? Why are they so important? Well, the challenges give you a chance to get clues so they are vital to the show! What's the most gripping thing about the show? I suppose the most gripping thing is seeing how the players respond to the pressure that they are under and watching players' relationships develop. I don't want to give anything away but when they start out, they are very much in a team mentality, they are keen to remind me that they are a team - and then things evolve. Do you think you'd play the game well? What would your game plan be? No, I think I would be hopeless at the game, I would not have a clue and would be cruelly exposed as being not too bright at all! How would you have fared in the bus for over 30 days, disorientated from the world? I would have struggled hugely with that as well, particularly the lack of sleep. They have nice bunks but nonetheless you're sleeping on a bus. You lose your privacy; I would have found that very difficult indeed. What do you think it takes to be a good player in Destination X? A knowledge of geography can only be a plus, and being a problem solver - a mind that's good with puzzles. A good knowledge of Europe is the most basic thing and I don't really have that beyond the places we always go on our holidays in Europe, I think I would have been rather lacking. What was the most surprising or unexpected moment from filming? The surprising things were watching the relationships develop between the players. I say in the first episode it's all about alliances, but then ultimately only one person can win £100,000. So, it was watching the dynamic of the group change over the course of the series in ways that you didn't see coming. What was your favourite moment filming? I suppose, ultimately, seeing the look on the winner's face was very special because you don't get to experience that every week. They are playing for £100,000 so whoever wins - I mean, this is a seriously large amount of money so being there and telling that person that they had won, I suppose that's my biggest takeaway. Other than that, it was getting to see some of the most beautiful parts of Europe. Meet the contestants Ashvin Age - 23 Occupation – Economics Graduate Location - London Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I've got a great personality and I'm funny. There is a sense of me which is extremely normal and there's also something about me that's likable. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? Physically, I've been keeping it simple. Less weightlifting and more cardio like running, rowing, squash and badminton. Mentally, I'm trying to improve my breathing techniques because I know that under pressure that will really come into play. What do you think it takes to win this show? Initially luck is going to be a big part of it. Surviving is also a big thing plus sussing out your environment and competition. Then it's about growing in confidence into the game. Hopefully with that comes strategy and being tactical at times but not overdoing it because that results in paranoia. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? It's hard to say at this stage but once I'm in the environment, then I can start working out how I want to play the game. If I did win, I would invest some of it in the stock market. What would surprise other players about you? They would probably be surprised by my intelligence. They might see someone outgoing, extroverted and social but think that I don't have the brains. I don't mind that and it's probably the card I would play on purpose. By being the silly guy that loves to make outrageous comments and who people think have no substance, that's when I could catch them off guard. What assumptions will other players make about you? They will definitely think I'm arrogant, cocky and overconfident. But positively, maybe charming and entertaining. Someone once called me ostentatious! What brings out your competitive side? I don't like losing. When I was young, I was a sore loser, but I've found ways to be graceful about it. In a competition like this there's more at stake though and it's important for the gameplay to want to win. What scares you most about this challenge? What scares me the most is if I left without playing to my full potential and underperforming. I would be disappointed. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? If you come across as too confident, cocky or arrogant it will put a target on your back. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? I would love to use my age as an advantage and think I'll be great at some of the physical challenges. I've got a great memory and hopefully I'll be good at picking up clues. I'm well rounded about what goes on around the world, which should be a good foundation to build from. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? After I graduated, I went to Thailand for three and a half weeks. Before that I'd never been on holiday without my family, so that was exciting. Growing up in an Asian household, your parents are quite protective, so that felt like a coming of age experience for me. Ben Age - 42 Occupation – Surf School Director Location – South Wales Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I have experience and am fairly capable in outdoor activities. Being a surfer, you're used to dealing with lots of situations very quickly. A lot of my friends define me as affable. I get on with people quite well. I've just spent a few weeks in a caravan with my family so can handle confined spaces. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? Physically, I've just tried to maintain a level of fitness and not push too hard. I didn't want to get any injuries. Mentally, I've been treating it as if I was going to prison. I'll be cut off from everybody and have got to deal with new people and environments that might be testing and challenging. It'd be nicer to think I'm going to space as an astronaut. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? Being a director of four different businesses, it's been 16 years since I fully switched off from them all. I have spent time cut off in a desert and a jungle but never for a few weeks at once. I am anxious about my family. That's one of the things I might struggle with. The longest I've spent away from my kids in 10 years is five days, and in that time, I still spoke to them. But I'm looking forward to not having to check my phone and to having real conversations with people. What do you think it takes to win this show? Having a level of resilience and a creative mindset and being decisive. I'm a people person so will be looking to gain experience and build relationships through this whole process. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'm excited to see what I'm capable of in that respect but my whole life I've put people first, above money. But there is that conundrum that the communities I support are constantly looking for funding so it would help. There's a number of accessible bits of equipment I'd like to design and build, and that money would give me freedom to be able to make that happen. What would surprise other players about you? I come across like a surfer, individualistic or selfish, but actually I'm hugely interested in education, understanding and supporting people. What assumptions will other players make about you? That maybe I'm getting on a bit and physically can't do it. I've had a few breaks over the last few years and I've got a big metal plate in my shoulder butI have 20 years' experience of doing some crazy activities. Describe yourself in one sentence. I'm an inquisitive soul who is up for living life and making connections. What brings out your competitive side? When I was younger, boxing was my bread and butter which is highly competitive. I moved into team sports as I got older and would do anything to win, put everything on the line. As an adult, it's more of an intrinsic balancing of who I am. Pushing myself to my limit as opposed to trying to beat other people. It's helped me develop and I use it as a medium to help other people teach their potential. I am competitive though. I'm not playing for fun. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? The ability to relive my youth a little bit and do some fun unknown things. I'm hoping it's going to be an exciting adventure. I am doing this to show my boys that Dad's still got it. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? Not to think too hard about it. Sometimes I will overthink things to a point that I come up with the wrong answer. So I want to be myself, have fun with it and try to lead with my gut. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? If there are any challenges that involve board sports or the water then I can excel. If they're heavy endurance based I might struggle with old injuries. I can really handle things and do well at any adrenaline based activities or if it has a fear factor. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? I've got myself into some silly situations going all over the world, surfing big waves and doing big cliff jumps and crazy things. But my biggest adventure is being a dad. It's the scariest adventure for sure. Chloe-Ann Age - 27 Occupation - Historian Location - Oxford Why did you apply for this? Firstly because of my grandmother who passed away a year ago and was a huge influence on me. We were always doing puzzle books and she encouraged me to keep learning new things. She'd absolutely love this show and so I feel like this opportunity is a sign from the universe. The other reason is that when I was growing up I suffered from anxiety. It's still something I have now, but it's a lot more under control. I have this phrase that I've used ever since then to try and help me tackle it, which is, 'Be more Tigerlily than Wendy'. Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? It's probably the combination of history and aerial arts. But I've always been into puzzle solving and that's the way I view history – like a huge detective puzzle of the past. It's the kind of treasure hunt that can lead you all over the world, which is very similar to this game. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? Physically, I haven't done that much preparation. Obviously, I do aerial so I'm generally at an okay level of fitness. And mentally I've just been doing loads of brain puzzles, anything to test my memory and my skills of cracking codes. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I have a variety of different skills. I'm not amazing at any of them, but I've got an interesting combination. I'm hoping that some of them might prove to be useful. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? It's going to be the hardest thing to get my head around. But once I get into the game it'll mean that I have nothing else to think about except the game. What do you think it takes to win this show? I think it's going to take a bit of brain power and the ability to keep a level head in stressful situations. I'm guessing there's going to be some high pressure situations, tactics and gameplay. I'm a very gullible person, so I'm not sure how well that's going to go for me. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'm not going to compromise any of my morals to win the prize money. I'm definitely in it more for the adventure but the prize money would be nice and I'm definitely willing to play the game. People might be lying to you or leading you in the wrong direction and I would never have any hard feelings against anyone for doing that because I understand that's the game. And to a certain extent, I'm willing to do that too. But never to the extent that anyone would get upset or hurt by me. I really want to do a PhD and so I'd like to use a certain amount of the prize money to fund it. I've also always wanted to write a book about Greek mythology. What would surprise other players about you? People who know that I do aerial circus arts are always surprised by the fact that I am a historian or that I was in Mensa. And then the people who know me from the historian Mensa side of things are always really surprised I'm an aerialist. What assumptions will other players make about you? I come across as quite a friendly and nice person in general. I'm always really smiley and that can lead people to underestimate me. They might think I'm not going to try and play the game in the same way. It might lead people to trust me when maybe they shouldn't. Describe yourself in one sentence. I'm a creative but academic aerialist who loves to push my brain and body in lots of different ways just to see what I'm capable of doing. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I'm definitely going to lean into that nice girl vibe and I intend to make myself a really trustworthy character, which is not hard, because I will be. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? In sixth form, I went on a geography school trip to Morocco with a small group. We did an overnight trek through the Atlas Mountains and slept in a local village. It's part of the world I'd never visited before and haven't since but it was absolutely phenomenal. Claire Age - 51 Occupation - Retired Detective Sergeant Location – West Sussex Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I'm loud, confident, a bit rude and edgy. Because I'm retired and don't have any dependents, I can go missing for a while. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I've been looking at a lot of geography because I left school years ago. Things like maps and flags. I'm quite well travelled and have been doing some driving jobs for friends all around Europe recently so I look at all the number plates. I've been trying to find things that identify where I am and I like testing myself. Physically, I've got a residual level of fitness from the army and police. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I was in the police for 26 years. That required things like investigative knowledge, finding clues and looking outside the box which was a good thing. But it might let me down - if I'm so focused on outside the box, I might miss something that's inside the box. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'm a nice person, I'm not horrible to anybody but it's the name of the game, isn't it? So if I've got to double cross somebody to get what I want or to get myself further along I will. It might feel a bit uncomfortable, but they're going to be doing it to me. I don't really care about the money. It might pay my mortgage off but life's for living, isn't it? If I can use that money to make my life better I will. I love traveling and thought that if I did win, I'd like to do the whole journey again but in real time and actually take it in as a trip. What would surprise other players about you? I initially come across as a bit loud and lary. I swear and I've got toilet humour but I'm quite sensitive. People might think they'll be able to get away with saying things to me as I have the kind of resilience you have in the police but I'm also soft. What assumptions will other players make about you? They might think I'm massively confident because I can be lary. Or they might think I'm really good at riddles and clues. But the key thing about the army and the police is your communication skills. They get you everywhere in life in general. It's not just about being good at investigating, you need to know how to communicate and listen, ask the right questions, how to come across and how to find out answers. Describe yourself in one sentence. I'm kind, funny, self aware, charismatic and extrovert. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? My main concern is being lonely and not getting on with other people. Plus I'm going to be away from everything that I know. I also don't want to go out first. I'm most excited about getting stuck into the challenges. I have got PTSD and the reason I'm doing this show is to say to the world that even though you might have mental health issues, you can still do it. But equally, I know my limitations. I'm excited about pushing myself to the absolute limit but will say no if i need to. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I'm just going to listen and look at what everyone else is doing and saying. I'm not going to go in all guns blazing. I'm not sure I'll show all my personality at once. I'll be my friendly self but i might not tell people that I'm a police officer. It won't be a secret, but I will have to hold a little bit back. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? I'm an HGV one lorry driver and just took a load of furniture from the UK to Florence. I drove across the whole of France and through the Alps, which was challenging. I had to research the whole thing and then navigate this big lorry going down these little country roads in Florence and then try to find hotels at last minute. Tell us something viewers will find surprising about you. I was in a horrific car accident seven years ago and should have died which was a life changing experience. It made me look at life completely differently. They had to shut the road for six hours, there were four ambulances, five fire engines and it was carnage. My car was in the middle and they didn't expect me to be alive. But there I was. Daren Age - 58 Occupation – London taxi driver Location – London Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? Maybe because I'm a London taxi driver. They might think that I will know where I'm going or have a good sense of direction. I'm also not your average taxi driver – I've done some pretty severe challenges which hopefully makes me more interesting. In 2019 I lost five stone, and since then I encourage people with mundane jobs to do incredible things. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru with two other cabbies. After that, my next challenge was rowing across the Atlantic with no nautical experience. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I've recently had a complete knee replacement and have gained a few pounds. It's only the last couple of months that I've been able to go to the gym. I've been preparing myself mentally as much as I can too - looking at maps and researching cities and flags. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? This game has got many levels and everyone will have their own strengths. I've got good general knowledge and I'll never back down from a challenge. My geography is pretty average but being a cab driver I do have a good sense of direction. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? I don't feel good about being cut off because I love my family. I was at sea for 60 days with no contact so it's not the first time I've done something like this. What do you think it takes to win this show? The ability to get along with the other contestants, good general knowledge and a great big spoonful of luck. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? It's not really the prize money that motivates me but I don't say that lightly. Of course it would make a massive difference. It's a life changing amount of money. I would love to take the family on a Winnebago around America or get my wife a new kitchen. But a wise man once told me, money goes in your wallet but memories go in your mind forever. What would surprise other players about you? People might think that I'm just a typical London taxi driver who likes eating pie and mash and drinking beer. Well, I am that, but it doesn't mean there aren't a few more layers to me. What assumptions will other players make about you? I'm a glass half full kind of guy and that might rub some people up the wrong way. I don't like being around negative people. I'll always try and take the positive out of something – my moto is 'deeds not words'. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? Rowing 3200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean with two other taxi drivers. None of us had any nautical or rowing experience and we did it totally unaided. It took us 60 days and was the most amazing thing I've ever done. There are more people who have been in space or climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic. Tell us something viewers will find surprising about you. I've been a proud London taxi driver for 20 years and it's changed my life for the better. I've done some amazing things and also get to help out with some great charities that make a big difference to a lot of people through the taxi trade. Dawn Age - 33 Occupation - Care Assistant Location - Derry How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I've been eating more junk and not watching what I eat, doing the opposite of what I should be doing! I don't think I've been mentally preparing myself either. Although, to be fair, I did buy a wee child's Atlas and read it. Apart from that, I have been trying to learn some basic countries and capitals. I'm not going to lie and say that I've done loads of work. I'm relying on everybody else to tell me where we are. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I'm a people person and I'm bubbly and chatty. Those skills are definitely going to help me because my geography is not. If I can befriend people and get to know them, then hopefully they'll point me in the right direction. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? I'm not looking forward to that, it's going to be very difficult. I'm going to really miss my wee girl and Jason. I know she will be absolutely grand because she's in the best hands with her daddy. I'm on the phone to my mammy 5 or 6 times a day so I'm not sure how I'm going to cope with not speaking to her! How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I would do anything to win it. I'm not going on to make friends. I'm not going on to be nasty, but at the end of the day I want that money, same as everybody else. I would definitely spend the money on securing Ella's future, especially her education. I would buy myself a new car and probably take my whole family on holiday somewhere. What would surprise other players about you? I do have a bit of a sneaky side. You know, I'm a nice wee mommy from Derry and a lovely person but I do have a slight sneaky side too. I'm keeping that to myself on the bus so I can pull it out when I need to. What assumptions will other players make about you? They might think I'm a bit airy fairy. And they're probably right! They won't think I'm as on the ball as I actually am. And I'm 100% going to let them think that. Describe yourself in one sentence. I'm very chatty, bubbly and friendly but also ruthless and stubborn. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? I'm most nervous about looking stupid and being so far out from what everybody else is thinking. I'm also worried about not catching on to the clues. The unknown is exciting to me. Not knowing what's coming every day when you wake up or what you're going to be doing. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? You can have a strategy but when you get on there it'll go out the window anyway. I have to see what kind of people I'm on board with and take it from there. I'm sitting here saying that I'm not going to make friends and I know I will build relationships and click with people. I'm going to be sad to see people go. I am a very bubbly and outgoing person and I can gain people's trust quite easily. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? I started my private pilots license and did about 40 hours. I flew the wee plane solo twice. I had to stop it after the 40 hours as I bought my house and had Ella. It was just too expensive to continue. It may be something I would go back and do again in the future. Tell us something viewers will find surprising about you. I'm doing the show because I want to make my family, Derry and Ireland proud. It doesn't matter where this bus is - you can take a girl out of Derry but you can't take Derry out of the girl! Deborah Age - 62 Occupation – Crime Writer Location - Lytham Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? Maybe my age, it's nice to have the 60 plus represented. I'm also an aspiring writer and worked in IT for nearly 40 years. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I've been rubbish. I started looking at places but then just think about holidaying there. I like quizzes and puzzles but get most of my education from Pointless! What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I rub along all right with people and when you're living in close proximity it's probably a good skill to have. I have humour which might help but sometimes it can hinder. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? It's going to be hard but there's a large part of me that thinks it's going to be quite refreshing to have a complete tech detox. You've no option in that scenario but to be in the moment. What do you think it takes to win this show? Not any one thing, it's going to be a combination of things. If you get beyond the first stop, and can survive the basic surroundings that will help. It will get more and more difficult so you need to have your wits about you. If you can do those things and keep your sense of humour, you're probably in with a good chance. How far would you go to win the £100k? A wins got to be a genuine win. I'm not interested in pushing somebody down in order to get a bit a bit further. What would surprise other players about you? They will underestimate me but my tenacity and determination will surprise them, I don't easily quit. What assumptions will other players make about you? I like a laugh and I've always used my humour to get out of a lot of trouble so they'll probably think I'm a bit ditzy, a bit of an airhead. That's fine, I'll play into that. It might get me another couple of stops further on. Describe yourself in one sentence. She's a little bit bonkers, but you'd have a good night out with her. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? The most ridiculous thing makes me nervous. I'm worried that I won't have enough room to put all my bedtime bits and bobs anywhere. I'm excited about the places and the challenges. That's why I'll be absolutely gutted if I go off at the first stop. Not because I'll care about what people are thinking of me but because I'll know that they're going to go and see and do loads of stuff without me. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? Not a clue, not a Scooby Doo. Look once, look twice, look three times as things will be hidden in plain sight. We'll go from being sensory deprived to then all of a sudden being able to see stuff. But you've got to not just see it, you've got to really look at it. You're not on your holidays, it's a game, and you've got to keep your wits about you. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? I'll be all right at the challenges. I worked in IT for 40 years solving problems every single day. I took a lot away from team building exercises. You don't always have to be the person that steps up to the front. Sometimes your role in the team is to be a little bit further back and recognise other people's strengths. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? I went skiing and usually I do the nice little blue runs but for some reason I ended up on a black run. I got to the bottom and inhaled a Mars bar whilst crying. It was so far out of my comfort zone. The thing with it is, you've no option but to carry on. The only way down is down. I also went scuba diving and got swept away. I got sucked around this corner, completely away from all of the group. I just decided this is not my day to die and started to sing a hymn. I swam to a buoy then from nowhere this boat comes over. It was the ultimate humiliation though, as it was our boat and they had to drag me out of the water. I should have just stuck with the golf! James Age - 23 Occupation – E-commerce Manager Location - Manchester Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I never expected to get picked because I try to be modest. I'm only 22 but I have an analytical and old timer head. I like to think I am quite mature and funny too. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I haven't made any changes to my routine. Physically, I go to the gym three to four times a week and mentally I didn't do much until two weeks ago when I started doing quizzes and trivia to prepare myself. Whilst my analytical brain might be great, my knowledge of geography is terrible and so I have had to do some training on that. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? If you'd have asked me how I felt about that two years ago, I would have said scared. But as I've grown up a bit, I've become more introverted and appreciate my own peace and quiet more. That goes hand in hand with being an old timer. The opportunity to meet new people and travel is obviously a big win. I want to have fun and have a laugh and let the outcome be the outcome. What do you think it takes to win this show? There are two ways to win it. One is to be really good at geography, have travelled and seen the world, and to use that knowledge. To contrast that, maybe you don't need to know anything about geography but need to know about people. At its core, if you know people and how they behave then you know how they react and can anticipate their moves. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? It's a competition and if I've got to backstab and betray then I will. That's quite cutthroat of me to say. The top line is I'd spend it on the betterment of my family's life, setting myself up for where I want to be later in life and living whilst I can. What would surprise other players about you? Most people think I'm older because of how I look and act. So right off the gate they'll be surprised at how young I am. The other thing that will surprise them is that I'm quite good at considering how I come across before saying something. At 22 you get swept under that rug of being quite rash and illogical. What assumptions will other players make about you? People will think I'm not taking it seriously, because I'm going to go in and have a laugh but I'm also there to make money. Describe yourself in one sentence. I'm a 22 year old old soul with a quirky and energetic personality but a strategic and manipulative mindset. What brings out your competitive side? I'm really competitive but only if it's something I care about. Anyone that has got a chip on their shoulder, and thinks they're a 10 out of 10, also makes me want to prove them wrong. Being competitive and having an ego can sometimes go hand in hand but I don't think I have the ego for it, I'm competitive in the healthy way. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? Being on this show for a start is scary, but exciting. I'm sure the activities will be scary and exciting and will push me out of my comfort zone. I've always said that I might scream and shout my way down, but I'll do it. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I'm going for the angel but devil angle. When I go in, the first thing I'm going to do is suss out the people. And then I'm going to go for the older passengers who might lack things physically. I could maybe be an advocate for them. When it comes to getting clues, it's going to be a matter of asking myself who I trust and who I want to go forward with. Then if I don't know and don't have a clue, I'm going to be relying on them. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? I would have strength for the physical challenges but not cardio because I hate running machines. When it comes to escape room type puzzles and code breaking I'd be good because of my analytical mindset. Josh Age - 26 Occupation - Pilot Location - Dartford Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I have a lot of qualities that can help me within the game such as flight training and I also know meteorology and navigation. I'm quite a social person as well. I've got a good mix of intelligence and sociability. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? It'll be a detox which should be quite nice. Maybe I'll come back and throw my phone away. What do you think it takes to win this show? It probably takes quite a lot of knowledge. I'm worried about that because I'm only 26. The older people in the show will probably have more overall knowledge of the globe. But then if it's physical challenges, I can excel in that. Knowing different sort of terrains from above might also help me. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'll do whatever it takes to win the money, it would be very useful. I'd probably spend the money on training to fly another aircraft, like commercial flying. And then I'd also pay my mum and dad back for the money they forked out for flight school. And maybe a nice holiday for the family as well, for the sacrifices they've made for me. What would surprise other players about you? Probably that I'm musician as well. I played the cello for almost 18 years and I love classical music. It helps me relax. What assumptions will other players make about you? They might think I'm quite cocky but I just believe in self love. If you can't love yourself, you can't start to do things. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? Not really knowing where I'll be is the most scary thing. I've always known exactly where I am, especially with being a pilot. I've actually trained my body to be orientated, so to be disorientated will be quite a weird feeling. I'm looking forward to the adventure. I love traveling and even if I don't win, I'll still have a great experience. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I'm probably going to try and make a lot of friends. I want to use other people's strengths to help me, pick a bit from everybody and listen to everybody. I really want to tap into the social side of it. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? Probably flight training because I moved to Arizona on my own for a year when I was 22. I did a lot of traveling out there as well. I did a road trip with my family along the west coast of America to Vegas, San Francisco and California which was pretty cool. Judith Age - 28 Occupation - Nuclear Engineer Location - Bristol Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I have a very competitive nature and I'm also super talkative. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? That honestly doesn't matter to me, five weeks is not that bad. Maybe I'm just very ignorant to it because I haven't ever been away for that long before. I've never not been able to speak to my family for that long. But it doesn't seem like something that's going to faze me too much. What do you think it takes to win this show? It takes somebody who is very knowledgeable and probably quite fit as well. Everything depends on what the challenges and tasks are going to be like. Being able to work as a team and build friendships will be very helpful too. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'm very competitive and I am in it to win. If I did win the money, a chunk of it could be a really nice deposit. I would also help some of my family out and take some of the burden off my mother. What would surprise other players about you? My job would be the most surprising thing. I'm not sure how I'm going to play it and if I'm going to actually say anything. I also come off a bit ditzy, but I'm quite smart. What assumptions will other players make about you? Because I talk a lot, I give off a blase, nonchalant attitude so they won't see me as being as competitive as I am. But I have a feeling that will leak out if we're doing a challenge and it's not going right. Describe yourself in one sentence. Doesn't stop talking. What brings out your competitive side? Anything. Put cards in front of me and I'll be very competitive. I'm not good at football, but if we're playing it, I will give my all. If there's going to be a winner at the end of it, I'd hope that winner is me. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? The scary part about the challenge for me will be the small living space. In my head I think I'll be good without my usual comforts but the reality might hit me when I'm on a small bus in a small bed for a long period of time. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I don't have a strategy but I don't want to be seen as one of the louder players initially. I feel like they always intimidate people. I want to ease into the game slowly. I'm not sure if I will directly say what my job is as I don't want people to think I know a lot. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? I can bring my strategic thinking and passion, instead of fitness. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? Earlier this year, I went to Bali as my first solo trip. It was meant to be my big adventure but it didn't really turn into that because I didn't stay in a hostel, like everyone suggested, I stayed in a nice hotel. So this is meant to be my big adventure. At least I hope this is my big adventure. Mahdi Age - 22 Occupation - Content creator Location - London Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? I come across as a very bubbly and likeable person. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I have this mentality where, if I like the sound of something, I do anything I can to achieve it or be a part of it. The way I prepare myself is just by being me. Being yourself is the best thing anyone can do. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? The people around me, my confidence and growing up in Tottenham. I'm very aware of my surroundings which could be an advantage for me in this process. I'm very cautious and I think about what I'm about to do next. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? I think it's a good thing. Nowadays we're glued on to our phones and social life. I love traveling. It's really good to get out there and touch grass, as they say, see what's out there and just create memories. What do you think it takes to win this show? It does take a lot but for me it's all a mental game. It takes a lot of discipline, patience and motivation as well. What would surprise other players about you? I'd say how easily and quickly I will get along with everyone. I'm very sociable and I'm always positive. It would take a lot for you to have a negative impact on me and for it to affect me. What assumptions will other players make about you? I'm very talkative. I'm always saying something or doing something. The only assumption they'll probably make is that I'm very chatty. What brings out your competitive side? Something in me will just tell me, you have to win. I have to come out on top and can't be second. It's like this little ignition inside me. That's when I'll just turn on and be in full mode, foot on the gas type of vibe. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? The main thing is that I don't know where I'm going. That's number one. But then again, what excites me is me having to solve where we are. Another thing that scares me is creepy crawlies. I've never really been a fan of them - creepy crawly spiders, snakes, those vicious ants or whatever, that's not me. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I'm just going to be myself in the whole process and do everything I can. Everyone's trying to win it, so I'm not going to be the only one trying to backstab or snake someone. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? I definitely think I'll be good at the challenges. And the reason I say this is because I get along with everyone. When it comes to things like working as a team, I love that. I want to uplift everyone to win. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? The biggest adventure I've ever been on was when I was young and we'd consistently go back home to Algeria every summer. That's where I learned how to swim. We would go camping, sleeping on bunk beds in this little tent, going hunting, camping and all of that good stuff. We'd go for a whole month, sometimes even two. Nick Age - 35 Occupation - Endurance Athlete Location - Cornwall Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? Because I have run a marathon in every country in the world and yet I do not know anything about any of the countries. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? I'm just doing my normal physical activity which is running a lot. I lived in a van for four years so don't think I will have any problem with the mental side of it. The hard element is going to be that I'm in a room with nine other characters. But it's going to be a break. I won't have my phone, the laptop or work. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I have an understanding of geography and I like a challenge. I have a caring personality to the point that I can be supportive yet also competitive. If people need a shoulder to cry on I could be there, but also I will stab them in the back when it gets to the end of the show. What do you think it takes to win the game? To win the game, I am definitely going to need more knowledge than I currently have. I think you need an element of luck too. Winning the money isn't necessarily winning the game in my eyes. I am in the show to have a good time, look after people, and hopefully just enjoy the process. If I happen to get near the end, then fantastic. What assumptions will other players make about you? That I'm a privileged southerner. I am very privileged but in every other aspect, I think I'll be very similar to everyone else. Describe yourself in one sentence. Kind-hearted adventurer. What brings out your competitive side? Anything - any silly game. If there's a competition to be had, even if it's just throwing a stone at a can, I'll compete to the death. I think it's a good thing. What scares / excites you most about this challenge? If I have to be anxious about something, it would be the fact that I'm very used to running every day and having the beach and the ocean as my peaceful, happy place. It's definitely my therapy in life. Not having that, not having control or being able to do my own thing is going to affect me. I'm most excited about experiencing everything. It's the ultimate game. I can go and do my own challenges, but I can't do this. I can't compete with other people in this way. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? My strategy is to not have a strategy and not overthink it. I'm just going to go in there, be myself, look after people and see what happens. If get booted off straight away then fine but I will do everything in my power for that not to happen. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? If it's endurance based I will probably be okay. I'm really willing to get stuck into everything though. Even the more extreme stuff like jumping out of a plane doesn't faze me. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? My biggest adventure was definitely running a marathon in every country in the world over 674 days. I spent all my money, left my job and made running a career. Saskia Age - 25 Occupation - Marketing Executive Location - Birmingham Why do you think you've been selected out of thousands of applicants? Maybe it's my personality because I'm quite positive and bubbly. Hopefully that will push everyone on and bring something different to the bus. How did you prepare yourself mentally and physically for taking part? Physically, I'm quite a fit person and I like to go to the gym. I run on the weekends and am part of a run club. Mentally it's been my family and friends support mainly. They're my rock. What makes you think you've got the right skills for this game? I'm very determined and a very dedicated, devoted person. I don't like to quit so regardless of what it is I'll give 100%. Hopefully that will help me through the game. How do you feel about being cut off from the world for such a long period of time? We've lived in the digital age for so long now that I think I need the social media break. I'm really looking forward to it. What do you think it takes to win this show? I think it takes strategy. But I don't think I'm going to go down the strategic route. I'm just going to be me and hopefully the rest will just follow. Positivity all around. How far would you go to win the £100k and what would you spend it on? I'm a team player. I believe in playing fair, in equality, that there's strength and power in numbers. But we'll have to see. I just want to make sure I play a fair game. I'd get on the property ladder. I'm not a very materialistic person so I'm thinking long term rather than short term. What would surprise other players about you? Generally people look at me personality wise and because I like fashion and beauty they think that's kind of it. But I'm a smart cookie. I know how to study and I'll be using my big fat brain. Describe yourself in one sentence. Good things come in small packages. What brings out your competitive side? Literally anything, I'm a very competitive person. Whether it's sports or academics, I'm an all round competitive person. I like to win and I definitely don't give up. I like to give my all. Do you have a strategy for how you are going to play the game? I think I'll form alliances with people, not based on their knowledge but more on their personality and who they are. I believe in understanding people's characters and working with them. I'm sure we've all got our own abilities and strengths, so we just need to come together. I'll definitely be a team player. Do you think you'll be good at the challenges and what strengths do you think you might bring to them? It depends what the challenges are. If they're mathematical or sciencey then probably not. That's not really my strong point. I'm more of a creative and on the artsy side. I love drama, sport, music and think I'll manage to excel in those areas. What's the biggest adventure you've ever been on? Definitely this one. I'm still thinking what am I getting myself into but I am ready. Life's at the point where I just want to take everything on. It's my yes year, so whatever comes my way, I'm just going to go for it. Follow for more
