Hi

I was just wondering if anyone has seen the new documentary The Insider on BBC Three? I've just watched the first episode. It's pretty good, I think anyone who likes The Apprentice will like it.

Each episode features a company looking to recruit a new person to fill a certain role, and the five candidates have to live together and work together on a series of tasks for the company. However, one of the group is secretly an 'insider' - a mole who actually already works for the company, and is secretly assessing the others. It's this person who ultimately decides who gets the job.

The first episode at least is really enjoyable - like with The Apprentice, you get to see the people competing against each other on business tasks, but there is the added fun of trying to work out who is the insider - who is revealed to the viewer about halfway through. Also, everyone seems pretty credible, and there isn't anyone who is obviously just there for entertainment - not yet, anyway. This programme seems pretty unknown so far, but I think it could be a force to be reckoned with - although I think it would be hard for it to get a second series because it's the kind of programme that is difficult to keep making once it becomes popular, because the candidates would know the format and that they had an insider. If you like The Apprentice, you'll probably like this. Recommended

Just watched the first one - not really up to 'prentice standards, but not a bad show.
I didn't spot the "Insider" but the Essex boy was my pick for getting the job
Can't help but feel sorry for the three who spent 10 days without a job to show for it, though in these days of unpaid internships perhaps they got off lightly
Still good to see they all seem to be employed now, mostly doing what they wanted - I suppose the show gave them useful experience.

I can't find a thread for the programme anywhere else George - perhaps you should start one up in TV shows?

I agree it's not as good as The Apprentice - I don't think shows with self-contained episodes can ever really be as good as a continuing series - but still very enjoyable in my opinion.

According to a blog that was written about it, each company was very committed to staying in touch and helping out each candidate, even those who don't get the job. So I'm sure everyone who was on it did well out of it.

Yes, maybe I will start up a thread. There seems to be very little information on this programme anywhere on the Internet - there is a BBC blog on it, but it doesn't have a Facebook page or a Wikipedia article.