Gary Lineker is fronting a new ITV series titled ‘The Box’, a six-part gameshow that has been met with critical bewilderment since its debut. Described by The Guardian as a “bizarre new gameshow” and The Times as “inane,” the show, which originates from a Norwegian format, places minor celebrities into large yellow containers with little instruction.
The Unconventional Premise of ‘The Box’
The premise of ‘The Box’ begins with “10 BOXES” and “10 CONTESTANTS” – a collection of minor celebrities who, as Lineker himself explains, “have no idea where they are or what they’re supposed to be doing!” The show’s opening captions emphatically state: “NO HELP.” Inside their individual metal boxes, contestants like broadcaster Ranvir Singh gulp, “I don’t like surprises,” while former Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, confesses to being “in a state of unparalleled uncertainty.” Reality TV personality Joey Essex, meanwhile, bellows, “I’m Joey Essex,” while pounding on the walls of his container.
Once released from their confinement, the celebrities are tasked with “working together” to “solve challenges.” These tasks, devoid of context or clear purpose according to critics, include finding hexagons to fit into hexagon-shaped holes and completing an egg and spoon race within a set time. Following these challenges, contestants are divided into teams and sent to a custom-made house before one is eliminated. Notably, there is no prize for the winner.
Celebrity Reactions and Critical Reception
The show’s format appears to leave its participants as confused as its viewers. JLS singer JB Gill reportedly gasped, “The Box is absolutely unknown!” The contestants’ confusion is central to the show’s style, with Lineker observing their disoriented state. The series features various celebrities reacting to their surreal surroundings, from Graeme Souness squinting at an egg to Danny Aarons, a self-proclaimed “content creator,” shouting about how he “can’t hear the skies” and frantically thrashing his hair.
Reviews have highlighted the show’s chaotic and seemingly nonsensical nature. The Guardian suggests the boxes are “pointless,” serving only to briefly conceal contestants, a task that could be achieved with a blindfold. Unlike other chaotic game shows like Taskmaster, where there is a discernible reason for the pandemonium, ‘The Box’ reportedly features “chaotic things happen for no reason.” The second episode, for instance, culminates in a “genuinely harrowing sing-off” where John Bercow performs Pink’s ‘So What’ and is aggressively prompted to remove his shirt by an audience. The show is ultimately characterised as “a sustained howl of existential confusion” rather than a conventional gameshow, reflecting the bewildering spectacle hosted by Lineker, who also has a prominent role in ITV’s World Cup coverage.
FAQ
- Q: What is ‘The Box’?
- A: ‘The Box’ is a new six-part ITV gameshow hosted by Gary Lineker, adapted from a Norwegian format.
- Q: Who are some of the celebrity contestants on ‘The Box’?
- A: Contestants include John Bercow, Joey Essex, Ranvir Singh, Graeme Souness, JB Gill (from JLS), and Danny Aarons.
- Q: What is the main premise of the show?
- A: Minor celebrities are placed in individual boxes, released with “no help” or clear instructions, and must “work together” to “solve challenges” with no prize offered.
- Q: What do critics say about ‘The Box’?
- A: Critics have described the show as “bizarre,” “inane,” and featuring “pointless” boxes and “chaotic things happen for no reason,” calling it “a sustained howl of existential confusion.”