Two decades after capturing the nation's attention as the runner-up on Big Brother 7, Glyn Wise has embarked on an extraordinary journey that saw him trade the reality TV house for the pulpit - and then for Netflix's most brutal competition yet.
The 37-year-old former lifeguard, who became an ordained reverend earlier this year, has maintained his passion for reality television, leading him to apply for Squid Game: The Challenge, where 456 competitors battled for a staggering $4.56 million (£3.6m) prize pot.
From Big Brother to Squid Game
Glyn's reality TV journey came full circle when he participated in both the actual Netflix series and the immersive London experience, Squid Game: The Experience, where he guided this journalist through games including marbles, blind tug-of-war and the infamous Red Light, Green Light.
While the London attraction proved manageable, the actual Netflix production was anything but. Past contestants have reportedly considered legal action against the streaming giant, with some participants even requiring hospital treatment for injuries sustained during filming.
"They didn't show this on the series, but a lot of people walked out because they couldn't cope with the pressure," Glyn revealed in an exclusive interview.
The Gruelling Reality Behind the Games
The Welsh native, who was contestant number 36, described conditions far more challenging than viewers witnessed. "We weren't allowed anything, not even pyjamas, we had to sleep in our tracksuits," he explained. "All we were allowed was Vaseline for our lips, a hairbrush and a toothbrush."
With 456 contestants sharing facilities, the environment became intensely stressful. "There were 456 of us using communal bathrooms and communal showers and it was so full-on when we were in there that everybody's anxiety was so high."
One of the most surprising revelations concerned the production timeline. While the edited show creates the illusion of rapid progression, Glyn disclosed that contestants had already been filming for a week by the time they completed just the second challenge.
"Every game was in a different location to the dorm so we had to be taken on buses," he said. "There was a lot of waiting around and it would be a full day of filming. We were all so drained and we couldn't sleep much because we'd have to wait for the bright lights in the dorm to be turned off."
Psychological Toll and Life Changes
Netflix prepared contestants for the sparse conditions by implementing a three-day detox before filming, removing sugar and salt from their diets to acclimatise them to the plain meals they'd receive.
"This is why you see so many people crying in there," Glyn noted. "You've been stripped of all your energy and it's high intensity, so there's a lot of arguing!"
The psychological impact extended far beyond the competition for many participants. "If I'm honest with you, it took me a lot longer to get over Squid Games than it did with Big Brother," Glyn confessed. "I know it was only a week compared to three months in the BB house but for a lot of people it had a profound effect on them."
Some relationships didn't survive the experience. "Some contestants even came out and filed for a divorce! I think it's because you just had so much time to think in there. People were questioning what they were doing with their lives, so you didn't even have to win the £3.7 million prize to change your life."
Financial Realities and Production Secrets
Unlike his Big Brother experience in 2006, where he earned £30 daily (approximately £50 today accounting for inflation), Netflix didn't pay Squid Game contestants beyond travel cost reimbursement.
"A lot of people had quit their jobs in order to take the three weeks off we needed for filming - and then half of them got eliminated on the first day!" Glyn revealed. "It was just pot luck."
The production took measures to address previous controversies, including distributing condoms in the dormitory after two participants were reportedly removed from the previous series for having sex in their hotel. While Glyn insisted nobody used them, he acknowledged witnessing romantic connections forming under the stressful conditions.
From Reality Star to Reverend
Glyn's journey since Big Brother has been remarkable. After leaving the lifeguard role that paid him £5.50 per hour, he pursued television and radio work before training as a teacher. He tutored at Cardiff University and later taught in Shanghai before answering his religious calling.
The Welsh native, who "prayed his way onto Big Brother", was ordained as a reverend in June and now lives in a vicarage, conducting funerals, weddings, baptisms and running youth clubs.
He's even incorporated Squid Game into his sermons, drawing parallels between the show's emphasis on wealth and biblical teachings. "There's a lot of emphasis on money in the show, and if you look in the Bible there's over 2,300 quotes about what our relationship with money should be," he explained.
Despite the challenges, Glyn maintains strong connections to his Big Brother past, still meeting annually with winner Pete Bennett and remaining in contact with other housemates including Imogen Thomas. He fondly remembers late housemate Nikki Grahame, who died in 2021 after battling anorexia, revealing that he still speaks to her in prayer.
Reflecting on his extraordinary journey from reality star to reverend, Glyn offered simple wisdom: "We're living in the present and I think we should just enjoy it. If you're not happy, do something about it."
