The Only Show On TV I Bother Watching! (Mole, The)

Member Name: Cwej1

Product:	Mole, The
Date:	05/12/01 (195 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes you think, Stunning challenges, Fantastic presenter and structure of programme

Disadvantages: None that I can think of

As a penniless student, I have no money for a TV license, therefore I watch no TV. However, when I heard that The Mole was returning for a second series I quickly rang my mum and begged her to record each episode for me and send it to my address as I have a TV but no license!

This is because it is quite simply a wonderful programme. It is a gameshow in the style of a mixture of The Crystal Maze, Big Brother and Treasure Hunt with a bit of added intrigue for the viewers. Ten contestants start in Episode 1 and have to compete in a series of challenges throughout 8 episodes, with the total prize money coming to a whopping £200,000. There is a catch. In reality there are only 9 real contestants as one has been hired by the production crew to pose as a contestant. This person is The Mole. At the end of each episode all the contestants take a test, asking them questions about the identity and actions of The Mole throughout the game. The person who scores the lowest on this test is eliminated from the game, until (in Episode 8) we are left with just 2 contestants and The Mole. Needless to say, The Mole cannot be eliminated!

What works about the game then? Is it the challenges? The contestants? The presenter? The elimination procedure? The mystery of who the mole is in itself? Well, in all honesty it is a combination of all of those things.

The challenges range from simple brainteaser questions, to 27 hour endurance marathons, to contestants dressing up as a bear to try and get a free pass into the next episode, to walking a highwire, whilst keeping your pulse below 130 bpm! The range of challenges makes the game so much more interesting, because you honestly never have a clue what else the poor players might have to do next.

The contestants themselves take a few episodes before they really become individuals and so the first 2 or 3 eliminated contestants are almost non-existent in your minds once the series ends. This is because there
is really not much time to get to know them, with an hour’s show featuring 3 challenges and an elimination. However, once you get to the last few episodes you really do have your favourites and some of the actions of the players become ever more suspicious. You will find yourself upset when your favourite player is eliminated, or if the player you were utterly convinced was the mole is eliminated! (Mel in Series 2 did that for me – and I couldn’t believe Jennifer wasn’t the mole when they revealed it was David in the first series).

Glenn Hugill, who famously jilted Fiona at the altar in Coronation Street, does a superb job of presenting the show. He is friendly and supportive when he needs to be (following a player’s elimination, following losing a challenge), menacing when he needs to be (particularly in the final quiz, where he becomes very scary, and in the school challenge in series2). They couldn’t hope for a better presenter in all honesty – as good as Davina McColl is on Big Brother.

The elimination procedure is SO tense. This is always a highlight of the show. When Glenn says ‘We have an elimination this afternoon’ I find myself getting all tense so I can’t imagine what they must feel like on the show!

And the mystery of the Mole. Well both series, even when it got to the final three I guessed incorrectly (I thought it was Jennifer in Series 1 and Chris in Series 2, but it was actually David and Tanya, for anyone who actually watches it). It really does have you guessing right from beginning to end. I even found myself trying to take notes and see who was losing the team the most money! Sad eh? ;)

I cannot fault the programme and even though the viewing figures are low, I think that gives it even more charm. I like the fact that none of my friends know what the hell I am talking about when I chat about the Mole. Here’s to the third series. J I cannot wait! <
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