GB News star and posh aristocrat make up Rise and Fall cast for Greg James' show
Reality TV fans were treated to a new series over the weekend, as Greg James ' Channel 4 venture kicked off on Sunday night.
Billed as the show that will fill the void The Traitors left following its finale last year, Rise and Fall has ordinary people competing for power and a £100,000 prize.
Hosted by Radio 1 DJ Greg, the show sees players begin as equals, before taking a position of power as a Ruler living in a luxury penthouse, or as a 'powerless' Grafter surviving in basic conditions down below in the dreaded basement.
We're only a few days into the exciting new series but drama has already kicked off, thanks to one of the stars of the show being described as one of the most unpopular reality TV contestants of all time.
Rise and Fall is set to be as successful as BBC hit The TraitorsRise and Fall bosses - the same team behind BBC show The Traitors - say they selected "sixteen ordinary British people, from all walks of life and ages" to compete on the new series.
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Speaking about his new gig, host Greg says: "I’ve been waiting a long time for a show like this to come along that I can get stuck into and be the ringleader of.
"It’s an amazingly mad idea and the contestants are going to make some incredible TV. It’s very exciting to launch something brand new on Channel 4 and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Let the power struggle begin…"
So let's take a look at the latest batch of reality TV hopefuls.
Ali
Ali says he's well known in the Essex area thanks to his businesses (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 45
Location: Essex
Occupation: Business owner
Ali's life as an entrepreneur makes him well-suited to be a Ruler on the Channel 4 show, with the businessman claiming he is a popular figure in the Essex area for his restaurants which are loved by celebrities.
"I can make people do what I want them to do," Ali said before appearing on Rise and Fall, adding how he will make a great leader.
Cheryl
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Cheryl doesn't like to see anyone struggling (Channel 4)
Age: 40
Location: Liverpool
Occupation: Student
Scouser Cheryl previously made a living as a support worker but is currently focusing on her studies.
Chatting about her qualities before beginning her Rise and Fall journey, she admitted: "I don’t like seeing anyone struggling so I know I’m going to be very compassionate about those scenarios."
Connor
Connor works with the elderly away from the show (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 27
Location: Kent
Occupation: Care worker
Connor, who began volunteering in the care sector at 16, sweetly described his mum as the best leader he knows before signing up for the Channel 4 show.
He currently works with the elderly and people with disabilities.
Edmund
Edmund has a posh background (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 27
Location: Devon
Occupation: Account manager
Edmund may have a pretty posh background, coming from an old aristocratic family, but the account manager claims he leads an ordinary lifestyle and can relate to anyone - making him perfect for a successful stint on Rise and Fall.
Jack
Jack is a semi-professional footballer (Channel 4)Age: 28
Location: Hertfordshire
Occupation: Construction worker
Construction worker Jack has big plans for if he wins the Channel 4 show's prize - dreaming of taking his mum on a luxury holiday.
The new reality TV star - who plays semi-professional football - is determined to go all the way and says: "I’m not here to come second or make friends."
James
James describes himself as down to earth (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 26
Location: Newport, South Wales
Occupation: Employment coach
James keeps busy with his career as an employment coach alongside running fitness classes.
"I’m trustworthy, I’m extremely down to earth," he said before his first appearance on the Channel 4 show.
Jeffery
Jeffery is best known for his stint on another Channel 4 show (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 69
Location: London
Occupation: Art expert
Rise and Fall isn't the first time Jeffery has appeared on a TV show.
The reality TV star, who grew up in the East End of London, is best known for his role as an expert in Channel 4’s Four Rooms and today runs eight businesses.
Joanna
Joanna says she has 'balls of steel' (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 50
Location: Suffolk
Occupation: Interior designer
Interior designer Joanna spent the majority of her childhood on her grandparents' stately home and has a controversial idol - Margaret Thatcher.
"She was a very strong woman with balls of steel," Joanna says, adding how the late political figure is the best example of a leader.
Marina
(Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 18
Location: London
Occupation: Aspiring actor
Marina has dreams of becoming an actress in the future and is currently living with her parents, after dropping out of university and walking away from her studies.
"It’s hard to choose a public figure because I feel like I’ve never been led by a public figure," she admitted when asked to pick a famous leader she admires.
Matt
Matt cares about the most vulnerable people in society (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 32
Location: The Midlands
Occupation: Nurse
After 10 years on the front line looking out for the most vulnerable of society, nurse Matt has become frustrated and fed up with social policy.
Like Connor, Jack describes his mum as a great leader and role model, saying: "She’s empathetic, compassionate, kind, honest."
Prince
Prince thinks he has what it takes to win Rise and Fall (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 39
Location: Hertfordshire
Occupation: Postal worker
Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Prince describes his childhood as challenging but necessary for success.
He believed that he will be able to win the competition because he is "very, very disciplined" and describes his Uncle Frank as a great leader.
Rachel
Influencer Rachel describes herself as very competitive (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 27
Location: London
Occupation: Influencer
As an influencer who specialises in fashion and beauty content creation, Rachel couldn't easily have appeared on Love Island rather than Rise and Fall but the 27-year-old believes she has what it takes to win the Channel 4 show.
Backing herself to go all the way, Rachel describes herself "very observant and […] social, but […]also very competitive".
Ramona
Ramona is a CEO (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 34
Location: London
Occupation: CEO
Originally born in Germany, Ramona moved from Munich to London as a child and credits the challenge of learning a new language as sparking her desire to work hard in life.
The Rise and Fall star is now CEO of multiple hospitality and tech businesses and says: "I’ve worked with so many people from different cultures and backgrounds and I can lead people using the knowledge and experience I’ve gained [to win the contest]".
Rishika
Rishika runs a charity (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 26
Location: Birmingham
Occupation: Charity worker
Rishika says growing up without much money has made her understand the value of things and motivated her to earn cash to purchase nice things.
The reality TV contestant currently runs a charity helping people who live in shoe poverty.
Sophie
Sophie is already known to many on social media (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 21
Location: Essex
Occupation: Student
As an outspoken figure on Twitter, with several appearances on channels like GB News, Sophie was already relatively known before appearing on Rise and Fall.
When asked about her leadership style, she said: "You have to be strong, I don’t give into this consensus nonsense, we want conviction."
Host Greg defended Sophie's inclusion in Rise and Fall's lineup amid a backlash, saying: "I don’t have anything to do with who’s picked for the show, the producers want to pick as many different people from different backgrounds with different views as possible.
"They want to create a show which gets people talking and is entertaining. Having lots of different viewpoints is really important on shows like this I guess.
"You know it’s not like we’re getting Sophie to host Channel 4 News. She is a reality TV contestant and she’ll be treated like everybody else."
Sydney
Sydney's idol is Marilyn Monroe (Channel 4 / Simon Webb)Age: 24
Location: West Lothian, Scotland
Occupation: Delivery driver
Alongside working as a delivering driver and raising a young child as a single parent, Sydney is also studying for a law degree with a view to working in the human rights sector.
The reality TV hopeful believes that Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe was an exemplary leader because "she’s iconic and had the world in a chokehold during her time".
*Rise and Fall be shown every weeknight on Channel 4. There are 18 one-hour episodes in the series.
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