Everything you need to know about the social media game show, The Circle
The Circle welcomes you to the ultimate social media game, where to players, popularity is everything – especially with $100,000 on the line.
In each season, a group of players are moved into camera-fitted apartments in the same building and are instructed to set up a social media profile on ‘The Circle’.
Players can decide whether to be honest, or to be a catfish and fake a persona for the sake of the game. Previous contestants have used this to play as people more attractive, a different gender, or a different sexuality in order to win favor with the other players.
From that point, contestants can only communicate with other players in the game via the social media service, with the show giving them games and the opportunity to privately message other players in order to get them on their side.
The Circle uses voice recognition software from players, so the messages are received in text on their app screen.
Periodically, they’ll be asked to rank the other players based on how much they like them. The top players win special privileges as ‘influencers’, while the bottom run the risk of being ‘blocked’ and eliminated from the game.
Before any eliminated player leaves, they get to visit the apartment of someone else in the game. Then new players enter.
At the end of the game, the person who is ranked the highest is declared the winner and gets to take home $100,000.
First launching on Channel 4, The Circle has since become an international game, with Netflix taking over the series.
Who hosts The Circle?
The Circle largely works without the need for a presenter; however, Michelle Buteau acts as narrator for the series and presents the initial episode as well as the finale.
Michelle Buteau is an American actress, podcaster, and stand-up comedian, who has won awards for her comedy.
She also fronts her own sitcom, Survival of the Thickest, which is also on Netflix.
She has been working in comedy since 2001, with her stand-up special Welcome to Buteaupia dropping in 2020 and winning Best Comedy Special at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Her acting credits include films Someone Great, Isn't It Romantic, and Always Be My Maybe, all of which are available on Netflix.
How many seasons of The Circle are there?
The Circle in its current Netflix format launched in 2020 and is heading into its seventh season.
The latest season starts September 11, 2024, with batches of episodes dropping weekly through to October.
There are currently no announcements for series beyond this point.
What is the age rating of The Circle?
The Circle, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is rated 15 – meaning it has been deemed unsuitable for young audiences.
Reasons for this rating include:
- Jokes of a sexual nature
- Frequent use of profanity
- Scenes of aggressive behaviour – though players are alone and so is non-violent
- Heated arguments
- Discussions on personal stories that some may find upsetting
How to watch The Circle on Sky
The Circle is a Netflix series – and luckily for Sky customers, access to Netflix shows comes at no extra cost if you have a TV and Broadband package.
You can find out more about the packages – which start at just £26 – by clicking here.
If you’ve already got Netflix, you can connect your two accounts together to save yourself some money.
You can find out how to activate your Netflix account to your Sky Stream account here.
