The Circle 2021: Host, line-up and latest news on series 3

And now it's time to find out who will bag the whopping £100k cash prize (and what Manrika and most likely Syed/Hashu are going to do to Natalya when they find out Felix isn't real).

While we won't find out who the winner is until the final, airing tonight (Friday, April 9th), former contestant Billy has revealed who should win The Circle, saying: "I feel like I’d put my money on Andy!"

Meanwhile, Tally is Team Manrika, despite the fact she rated her last, leading to her being blocked from The Circle.

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Tally revealed what she really thinks of Manrika after that blocking, and you might be surprised to hear they're still as close as ever!

As we head into the final, here's everything you need to know about The Circle 2021.

When is The Circle 2021 final?

The series three final will air on Friday, 9th April on Channel 4 at 9pm.

It's going to be an extra long show, so get the popcorn and put your feet up while The Circle winner is revealed!

We can already hear Syed/Hashu shouting "What the bl****!" when he sees Natalya, AKA Felix.

The Circle 2021 start date

The Circle 2021 series started on Tuesday 16th March at 9.15pm on Channel 4 – the day after The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up to Cancer's finished.

From then on, series three aired every day of the week (except Saturdays) at 10pm on Channel 4.

What is The Circle and how do you play?

The Circle is a Channel 4 reality gameshow in which contestants are moved into a block of flats, from which they can communicate digitally via their online profiles on a specially-designed app but they are never introduced face-to-face. This allows the contestants to either be themselves on the app, or to masquerade as a completely different person, a different version of themselves or someone else they might know.

The aim of the game is to become liked by the other players as each of them rate the other contestants throughout the show, with the two highest rated players becoming "influences" and the remaining contestants at risk of being "blocked". During the show's final, the players will rate each other one last time, and the contestant with the highest rating is crowned the champion and wins a cash prize of up to £70,000, while fans of the show can vote for the "viewers' champion", who can win up to £30,000.

While the rules tend to vary slightly with every series, as producers drop in new missions and games for the players each year, and the 2021 season is no exception, with Channel 4 promising that The Circle series three will begin "with host Emma Willis delivering a huge twist".

The Circle contestants

From catfish to clones, here's all the contestants in The Circle 2021 line-up, including who has already been sent home:

• Andy, 34 - Playing as himself
• Hashu, 28 - Playing as his Uncle Syed, 47
• Manrika, 24 - Playing as herself
• Tom, 29 - Fictional character played by Pippa and Joey
• Shabaz, 29 - Playing as 23-year-old chemistry teacher Alice
• Natalya, 29 - Playing as a male paratrooper named Felix

OUT

• Billy, 19 - Playing as himself
• James, 47 - Playing as NHS nurse Gemma
• Jamie, 57, and Millie, 20 - Playing as letting agent Penny, 49
• Tally, 23 - Playing as herself
• Vithun, 23 - Playing as himself
• Yolanda, 30 - Playing as her husband Chris
• Scott, 30 - Playing as his 85-year-old grandma Dot
• Pippa, 26 - Playing as herself
• Joey, 26 - Playing as a Nigerian immigrant version of himself named Femi

Who hosts The Circle?

The Circle is currently hosted by Emma Willis, who is best known for presenting Big Brother, Celebrity big Brother and The Voice UK.

The show was previously hosted by Glow Up presenter Maya Jama and former BBC Radio 1 host Alice Levine, who fronted The Circle's first series in 2018.

Actress and comedian Sophie Willan narrates The Circle, and is best known for appearing in CBBC's Class Dismissed, Still Open All Hours and Click & Collect.

Who is The Circle narrator?

Comedian and actress Sophie Willan is The Circle narrator.

The Bolton born star has provided the voiceover for the show since it started in 2018, and also lent her voice to the recent celebrity series.

Viewers may recognise her name from other TV shows, including Willan Dave’s As Yet Untitled, Live At The Comedy Store and Up Late With Rylan, and Still Open All Hours.

What is the prize on The Circle?

For the The Circle's upcoming series, there's a prize pot of £100,000 up for grabs – which will likely be split into a £70,000 jackpot for the show's winner and £30,000 for the viewers' champion.

The Circle's prize pot has varied over the last two series, with the series one winner – Alex Hobern – taking home £50,000 and an extra £25,000 after being voted as the viewers' champion.

However, series two winner Paddy Smyth received £70,000 from the prize pot, while the viewers' champion – Tim Wilson – went home with £30,000.

Where is The Circle filmed?

The Channel 4 show is filmed in a block of flats in Salford.

The specially designed building is a part of a development on the bank of the River Irwell.

It was used for the most recent series of The Celebrity Circle, The Circle USA and The Circle series two.

Series three will also take place in the famous block.

• For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides.

Who won The Circle series 2?

Dublin-based social media influencer and disabled activist Paddy Smyth won the second series of The Circle in 2019 and £70,000, having initially hidden his cerebral palsy at the beginning of the show before revealing it to his fellow players later on. Meanwhile, 58-year-old professor and former UKIP candidate Tim Wilson was voted as the viewers' champion and went home with £30,000.

The Circle series 3 final is on Friday, April 9th at 9pm on Channel 4. If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide. Visit our hub for more Entertainment news.