In a TV landscape populated with more and more bonkers and bizarre game shows, Channel 4’s new series is the latest offering.
If you love those juicy reality shows where betrayal, deceit and doublecrossing are the name of the game, then The Inheritance might just be your next nighttime fix.
Made all the more promising by the fact that the production company, Studio Lambert, is behind reality TV’s most recent sweetheart, The Traitors.
So what is the premise of The Inheritance hosted by Rob Rinder?
Well, when an elusive (and fabulously glamorous) benefactor played by Elizabeth Hurley, who loves wine and extravagant outfits, dies on her great country estate, they become known as The Deceased.
Naturally, she has left a mammoth fortune in her will. After that, it’s anybody’s game.
How does The Inhertance works?
Thirteen strangers are summoned to a stately home where The Deceased has concocted a mischievous game ‘to ensure only the most cunning can claim her inheritance’.
The host and overseer is Rob Rinder, The Deceased’s Executor and trusted legal counsel – following so far?
Each time the players successfully complete one of the final requests, a sum of money is released. The twist, only one player can procure all the money, and they must do it by convincing the rest that they deserve to cash in.
In this ‘cutthroat game of wit, willpower, and persuasion’, it’s all about which hopeful can outcharm their way to the very top.
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The 60-year-old actress and model herself has shared her hopes of creating a show that audiences become ‘really invested in’ the likes of which The Traitors saw.
Meanwhile, Bafta winner Rob, 47, has promised a cast hailing from a ‘rich variety of British life’ with the promise of many surprises in store.
In a chat with Metro, he reflected on working with Elizabeth, saying: ‘Often, when you make people meet people who you’ve written an entire novel about in your head, they fall short. Your imagined novel is always infinitely more fabulous than it could ever be.
‘Turns out, not a bit of it. She exceeds expectations. She really did. I mean, I’m not just saying it was, it was fascinating. She’s like that last bastion of effortless aristocracy.’
When does Channel 4’s The Inheritance air?
The show will air 12 episodes beginning on Sunday, August 31 at 9pm on Channel 4.
Episode two will air on September 1, and episode three on September 2.
Who is in the cast of The Inheritance?
Cam
Cam is a 28-year-old scaffolder from Yorkshire who’s hoping his ‘nice guy charms’ will win over the other player.
‘I think I can lift a team up in a stressful environment,’ he told The Sun. ‘I’ve
worked with scaffolders for years, massive groups of us, when there’s lots of big characters and lots of intense situations.’
If he’s lucky enough to inherit The Deceased’s fortune, he plans on swapping scaffolding for travel content creation as well as paying off his debts.
Catherine
Catherine was a police sergeant for 22 years and, in recent years, has worked closely with a therapy dog, so she thinks she knows a thing or two about how to effectively communicate.
‘I’m just a 50-year-old woman who has had her career and is now in a kind of different stage of her life. I’m so competitive, and I just really want to do something for me, so not as a cop or not as a mum, not as a wife, but something for me.’
Sadly, she does admit her competitive side means she often ends up arguing with people. Only time will tell if that’ll be a positive or a negative in the house.
Emma
Emma from Exeter is a 26-year-old paramedic who describes herself as ‘confident, outgoing and positive’. She’s hoping these traits will influence others to have a good time in the house – even if they are competing for a fortune.
If she wins, she plans on using the cash to help her mum buy her recently deceased nan’s house.
‘We lost her suddenly last year,’ she explained. ‘All of my mum’s inheritance from my nan’s house is to help me get on the property ladder. I would love to be able to free that up so that she could have her inheritance back.’
Ferg
A 68-year-old retiree, Ferg is playing The Inheritance in the hopes of finding a new challenge.
The adventurous sort, Ferg’s not really in it for the money and would rather come away with less cash if it means he doesn’t have to be by himself.
‘I think I’ll probably be the bloke who’s a little bit daft,’ he said. ‘I hopefully would like to bring a bit of humour to bring us all together.’
Ferg’s not confident he’s going to win, but that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about his winnings and is eyeing up a nice pair of running shoes if he’s the lucky winner.
Hafsah
28-year-old Hafsah is looking for a bit of adventure and has warned her fellow contestants that despite her friendly nature, you ‘shouldn’t underestimate her’ as she’s ‘here to win’.
‘I am ultra-competitive,’ she explained. ‘I really get involved in a game because I think you’re not really doing a game any service if you’re not fully engaging in it to win it.
‘I feel like I’m really good at getting my own way. I’m good at framing things in a way that will be beneficial to the other person.’
So what does she plan to do if she wins? Well, after she gets a Range Rover, she wants to help some charities.
Hannah
A wedding planner by day, 27-year-old Hannah is hoping to use her Scottish charms to bag the big prize.
Hannah is currently planning her own wedding and hopes to use the money if she wins to pay for her big day.
James
A 35-year-old entrepreneur, James is hoping to put his business acumen to good use during The Deceased’s game.
His secret weapon? Teamwork.
‘Yes, if it’s for MY team,’ he said when asked if he likes to work as a team. ‘If the team’s moving in the direction I want it to, yes.’
‘If not, then I would be the worst team player. Alliances are important, and I wouldn’t burn bridges for the sake of it.’
If he wins, James hopes to invest the cash.
Jesse
At just 19 years old, Jesse is the youngest competitor, but don’t presume he’s going to be a pushover.
‘I push myself when I want to do something, he said. ‘I’ll be a team player, because we have to do it as a group. But then if there’s a scenario where I have to do something by myself, or I have to decide things by myself, then I’ll happily do that as well.’
If he wins, Jesse plans on treating his family to a holiday before saving the rest of the cash.
Mart
After recently adopting a child with his partner, 37-year-old Mart is looking for a new challenge and hopes his humour and charm will win over other contestants.
‘I’m always looking for the next big thing, whether it be in business, my personal life,’ he said.
Don’t expect Mart to play games in the house, he’s said: ‘I want to go into this game with no facade and play it exactly as the person that I am.’
If Mart takes home the cash, he plans on putting it into savings for his kid.
Matt
51-year-old Matt is hoping to test himself in the house and thinks his 25 years spent running his own coach company mean he’ll go far in the game.
‘I like to look at people’s traits, see what makes them tick and try and work on that,’ he said. I’ll see if I can get a reaction from certain questions that I may ask, or reactions to things that we have to do.’
Matt hasn’t entered the competition for money and isn’t too bothered about winning the prize.
Pat
A 75-year-old cancer survivor and chess teacher, Pat only entered The Inheritance to see if she’d get through the application process, but now that she’s in, she’s determined to win.
‘I’ve got a master’s in strategic decision making,’ she said. ‘I am competitive as hell. I won’t let the grandchildren win!’
If Pat wins, she’s going to buy herself a new car.
Tia
A 26-year-old health and wellness advisor, Tia is a competitive person who thinks her ability to adapt will serve her well during the games.
‘[I’m] a team player, yes, but every man/woman for his or herself, at the same time,’ she said. ‘I’m a team player, but I also want to win.’
When she wins (her words), then she wants to start a family business and stop living paycheque to paycheque.
Zara
Model Zara, 36, describes herself as ‘silly, approachable and friendly’ but make sure you don’t cross her.
‘I’m one of those people who if I’m not happy about something, I will have to say it,’ she said. ‘I’ll stand up for myself because I don’t want to go to sleep thinking you should have said this or that.’
If she wins, Zara plans on buying a house in Greece and will invest the rest.
The Inheritance premieres on Sunday, August 31 at 9pm on Channel 4.
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