Big Brother star-turned-reverend Glyn Wise reveals secrets about Squid Games: The Challenge after competing in Netflix’s most gruelling reality show

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It’s been twenty years since Glyn Wise first became well-known as the second-place contestant on Big Brother 7.

A lot has changed for the 37-year-old, who used to be a lifeguard and recently became an ordained reverend.

But one thing has always stayed with Glyn: his passion for reality television. So, this year he decided to take a chance and apply for Netflix’s most challenging competition, Squid Game: The Challenge.

Inspired by the popular Korean show Squid Game, this competition brings together 456 players from across the globe to compete in a series of challenges for a massive $4.56 million prize (£3.6m). It first began last year.

Being a fan of both the original show and its experience, I really wanted to meet Glyn. So, even though I avoid strenuous exercise, I signed up to compete against him at ‘Squid Game: The Experience’ – a London event that recreates the show’s challenges.

Honestly, I was a little nervous going into the day, but Glyn – you might recognize him as player 36 from the Netflix series – turned out to be the perfect companion. We tackled all sorts of fun challenges, from a classic marbles game to a hilarious blind tug-of-war, and of course, we had to try our luck with the iconic Red Light, Green Light!

Since the experience is designed for kids, it’s not as physically demanding as the actual show – where contestants have been injured badly enough to require hospital treatment.

Given that former contestants are considering lawsuits against Netflix due to their experiences on the show, I wondered if it’s truly as difficult as people say.

Glyn revealed that many people actually left due to the intense pressure, something the show didn’t depict.

We had almost nothing with us – not even pajamas, so we had to sleep in our tracksuits. The only personal items we were allowed were Vaseline for chapped lips, a hairbrush, and a toothbrush.

There were 456 people sharing bathrooms and showers, and it was incredibly stressful for everyone due to the overcrowding and lack of privacy, which really raised anxiety levels.

Glyn said the hardest part of being on the show wasn’t actually doing the challenges, but how long everything took to prepare for them.

‘Every game was in a different location to the dorm so we had to be taken on buses,’ he revealed. 

Filming took a surprisingly long time. Although the show might make it seem like just a single day, we actually spent a full week on set, even before finishing the second challenge. There was a lot of downtime and waiting involved.

Honestly, dorm life was exhausting. We were constantly running on fumes, and it was so hard to get a good night’s sleep. The biggest issue? Those bright overhead lights! We’d just have to wait for someone to finally switch them off before we could even think about drifting off.

Glyn shared that participants had to go through a detox period before being on the show. Producers made sure they avoided sugar and salt for three days leading up to filming, getting them ready for the simple food they would be eating.

He said people often cry in there because the process is incredibly draining and emotionally charged, leading to a lot of conflict.

Before filming started last year, two contestants were removed from the show after violating production rules by engaging in sexual activity in their hotel room.

Glyn shared that the show’s producers were more proactive this season, providing condoms to the housemates.

Although he claimed no one was getting romantically involved, he did acknowledge witnessing connections and relationships forming among the cast and crew while working under stressful conditions.

Glyn admitted it took him much longer to move on from Squid Game than it did from Big Brother.

Although it was just a week, compared to the three months spent in the Big Brother house, it really impacted many people.

It’s surprising, but some people who were on the show actually got divorced afterward! I think being cooped up with so much downtime gave them a lot of time to reconsider their relationships.

Many people were reevaluating their life choices, and the lottery wasn’t even necessary to inspire positive change. Even without winning the £3.7 million, people were motivated to make a difference.

Actually, most of the people who competed on the show ended up losing money. Glyn explained that Netflix didn’t pay the 456 contestants anything beyond covering their travel expenses.

Glyn shared that he earned £30 per day on Big Brother in 2006, which is about £50 today after accounting for inflation.

He explained that, earning £5.50 an hour as a lifeguard, being on Big Brother felt like six hours of paid work and was a significant amount of money for him at the time.

Many people on Squid Game actually quit their jobs to get the three weeks off needed for filming, but then about half of them were eliminated on the very first day! It was completely random who stayed and who went.

I expected Squid Game to be easier than Big Brother. In Big Brother, I felt like I could navigate the game by understanding the other players and sensing what was happening during nominations. But in Squid Game, you could be unexpectedly eliminated at any moment.

Glyn still has fond memories of his time in Big Brother.

Davina McCall hosted the 2006 season of the show, which included well-known contestants like Imogen Thomas, Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, and the beloved Nikki Grahame.

The show was the third most popular ever, averaging 4.7 million viewers, and Pete Bennett was the winner.

Glyn shared that he and Pete continue to meet up every year. He explained that despite the unusual nature of it, people who’ve been on Big Brother create a strong bond and remain like family.

Spending so much time with Pete – practically living together – meant I learned all sorts of little-known details about him. It’s always great catching up with people from Big Brother, though.

I’m still connected with Richard Newman and Lea Walker, and I plan to call Imogen to check in with her.

Glyn’s friend and housemate, Nikki, sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 38 after a long, 30-year struggle with anorexia. He now prays to her memory.

Glyn shared that he often feels Nicky’s presence and talks to her as if she’s still there. He mentioned telling her about his decision to go on Squid Game and inviting her to join him, but knowing she wouldn’t have enjoyed it.

‘Being cooped up like a chicken, with the aircon doing her head in, she wouldn’t have enjoyed it!’ 

Over the past 19 years since appearing on Big Brother, Glyn has had quite a journey. He initially left his job as a lifeguard to pursue opportunities in television and radio, and later retrained to become a teacher.

Glyn previously worked as a tutor at Cardiff University. He then relocated to Shanghai to teach sports, English, and Spanish.

The contestant, originally from Wales, has been a Christian his entire life and recently became an ordained reverend in June. He previously shared that his faith played a role in his journey onto the show.

Glyn admitted he never imagined his life would take this turn back in 2006. Now, he lives in a small vicarage and spends his time performing ceremonies like funerals, weddings, and baptisms, as well as leading youth groups.

Glyn shared that he’s been referencing the popular show Squid Game in his sermons. He explained that the show’s focus on money connects to the Bible, which contains over 2,300 verses discussing how we should view and handle finances.

Okay, so when they smash that piggy bank on stage? It’s HUGE. It totally reminds me of the story of the golden calf in the Bible, you know, from Exodus? Like, everyone goes wild for it, and it’s this crazy, over-the-top moment of devotion… it’s just… wow. It’s a religious experience, honestly!

He also mentioned that hearing eulogies at funerals motivated him to try out for the show, as it reminded him how precious and limited our time is.

Glyn believes it’s important to focus on enjoying the present moment. If you’re unhappy with your situation, he encourages you to take action and change it.

It’s probably easier for me to say, given my work involves helping others, but I truly believe that a fulfilling life comes from loving God, recognizing God’s love in all things, and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

You can find Squid Game: The Experience at Immerse LDN, located at the ExCel centre. Check out https://squidgameexperienceuk.com/ for details.

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2025-11-30 16:15