The Underdog: Josh Must Win challenges a group of celebrities to secretly fix a TV series so the nerdy bloke wins – without him knowing. It’s a joyful, subversive ride, with the least likely reality star ever
Reality TV is about to get an overdue shake-up. Hoax reality show The Underdog: Josh Must Win flips the entire genre on its head by putting an average bloke into a houseful of the usual tanned, tattooed, gym-buffed types. They all think they’re in an E4 popularity contest called The Favourite but, in fact, the underdog in their midst – a nice, nerdy 23-year-old called Josh who lives with his parents and four chocolate labradors in Bournemouth – is being backed by a panel of four celebrities, covertly controlling events from the house next door and trying to make Josh win.
“I love how subversive this series is,” says its host, Nick Grimshaw. “Reality TV has become too unreal. Samey people with the same agenda. Our show’s message is more positive. It teaches us that the underdog can triumph and never to judge a book by its cover. It explores the bones of reality TV, its whole structure.” He pauses for breath. “It’s also a lot of laughs.”
