Stephen Mangan teases unexpected 'conflict' in new quiz show - 'it made me upset'

Virgin Radio

12 May 2024, 11:42

The host of new ITV game show, The Fortune Hotel, actor Stephen Mangan dishes on the drama, the dilemmas, and the detective work behind the scenes.

Stephen Mangan is taking a break from his new found love of writing children's stories to return to the small screen, as he gears up to host the latest reality TV sensation, The Fortune Hotel.

Inspired by the glitz of The White Lotus and the cunning of The Traitors, this high-stakes game of wit and wagers is set to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Set in a luxury Caribbean resort dripping with opulence and intrigue, The Fortune Hotel promises to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride for both contestants and viewers alike.

Ten pairs of hopefuls will vie for a shot at the £250,000 grand prize, but with deception lurking around every corner, not everyone will check out a winner.

The couples taking part will be given an 'all-important briefcase' when they arrive at the swanky hotel.

Inside one case is the £250,000 in cash, eight are empty and one contains the doomed Early Checkout Card – and whoever is gifted the booby prize will be evicted immediately.

The contestants will then take part it challenges each day to try and work out “Whogotit”, while viewers can watch the hopefuls play out different plans and strategies.

At the end of each episode, the pairs will decide whether to keep or swap their cases in the glamorous Lady Luck bar.

In an exclusive interview with virginradio.co.uk, Mangan delved into what drew him to the show and why it ended up causing him some unexpected emotional turmoil.

"I think it's the social experiment part of it as well," he revealed. "Watching how really unlikely friendships form or how people wind each other up, or how couples fall apart under stress.

"People are to me endlessly fascinating, and I don't care whether it's, a drama, a comedy, or a reality show or game show like this, it all comes down to people and how fascinating they are."

But for Mangan, who admits to being a conflict-averse soul, the drama of the competition took its toll.

"People arguing in front of me made me really upset," he confessed. "And then people being knocked out I didn't like. So I had to really learn how to not step in and try and make everyone like each other. Even though most of the time they did."

The stakes are undeniably high in The Fortune Hotel, where alliances are forged and broken with each passing challenge. As Mangan observed: "The best players don't always win. Sometimes they just come unhinged because of the smallest thing they give away, or a slight mistake they make, or they rub the wrong person up the wrong way."

He continued: "I found that really tricky, because I was genuinely upset when people got knocked out. Because, it's a life changing amount of money. And I know after spending some time with people, you realise what a huge difference it could make to someone's life. So yeah, I lived every moment of it."

Adding to the intrigue is the secrecy surrounding the contestants' game plans. "We didn't have a clue from day to day," Mangan admitted. "Even being out there the whole time, I only get the full story later because they're going back to their rooms, and they're talking to each other."

But despite the emotional rollercoaster, Mangan found himself hooked on the adrenaline rush of The Fortune Hotel. "I think it's addictive," he mused.

And with viewers eagerly awaiting the premiere of this thrilling new reality show, it's safe to say that the drama is just getting started.

So pack your bags and get ready for a stay at The Fortune Hotel, where the only guarantee is that nothing is as it seems.

The Fortune Hotel begins on Monday 13th May on ITV1 and ITVX