Netflix 'Squid Game: The Challenge' brings intense reality drama to UK screens

Netflix's latest reality sensation, Squid Game: The Challenge, is set to captivate audiences as it thrusts participants into a real-life battle for a staggering $4.56 million cash prize. 

Drawing inspiration from the original Korean drama, the show boasts eerily similar games, intricately designed challenge rooms, and a vast ensemble of contestants navigating fractured alliances and renewed relationships.

The meticulous production design, spearheaded by Mathieu Weekes, recreates the iconic Squid Game world down to the last detail. 

From maze-like hallways to identical bunk beds, the show aims to transport viewers into an experience that mirrors its fictional predecessor.

Diverging from the Korean setting, the British spin-off unfolds in the UK, with Cardington Studios in Bedford and Wharf Studios in Barking serving as the battlegrounds. 

Cardington Studios, a historical site that once housed zeppelins and airships, provided the expansive indoor space needed for the 456 contestants to face challenges.

However, the intense production has not been without controversy. Three contestants have come forward with allegations of inhumane conditions, including filming for hours in freezing temperatures. 

Describing the infamous Red Light, Green Light challenge lasting six hours, contestants voiced their concerns, emphasizing that they did not sign up for extreme conditions akin to survival shows.

Despite the challenges, Squid Game: The Challenge is committed to diversity, featuring ordinary contestants rather than influencers. 

The 16-day filming at Wharf Studios in Barking showcased purpose-built, acoustically treated facilities, amplifying the drama.

Contestants navigate a 'kill or be killed' dynamic, building tension towards the coveted $4.56 million jackpot. 

Squid Game: The Challenge debuted on Netflix on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.