ROLAND WHITE discusses the weekend’s TV: This torturous trek is like Lord Of The Flies with backpacks
ROLAND WHITE discusses the weekend’s TV: This torturous trek is like Lord Of The Flies with backpacks
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Tempting Fortune (Ch4)
Wild Isles (BBC1)
Judgement: 
A dozen contestants embarked on an 18-day trudge across South Africa to a shared prize of £300,000 in Tempting Fortune (Ch4). Any resemblance to Race Across The World was, of course, coincidental.
To be fair, there is a twist. Along the way, the participants are offered a series of luxurious temptations: food, a decent bed, a shower. But if one member of the party succumbs to temptation, money is drawn from the common pot. So if one person wants that shower, it will cost the group £1,000. And if they want a night in that double bed, it will cost them £3,000!
We all know the format in these shows. Contestants are underfed and deliberately exhausted, so they bicker like ferrets in a sack.
The weary hikers here will also face the disgust of their fellow travelers as they collapse under pressure. When graphic designer Lani treated herself to a £500 vanilla milkshake, in a diner that miraculously appeared in the sand dunes, it was like watching Lord Of The Flies with backpacks.
A dozen contestants embarked on an 18-day trudge across South Africa to a shared prize of £300,000 in Tempting Fortune (Ch4). Any resemblance to Race Across The World was, of course, coincidental
As you may have noticed, seduction is an expensive affair here.
Former pro basketball player James quickly emerged as the natural leader of the group, but did he really have the leadership skills he claims? During a steep climb on difficult terrain, the party split into three groups. Was he cheering on the exhausted stragglers from the back? No, he was far in the front of the leading group and wondered where the rest had gone.
The weakest link is clearly Lani. It was moan, moan, moan pretty much every time she was in front of the camera. She moaned because she had no lip gloss. She moaned because cell phones are not allowed. She even moaned because she didn’t have deodorant. “I don’t care about teamwork,” she said. “If I want something, why shouldn’t I have it?”
Towards the end of the episode, her attitude began to infect other members of the party. Why shouldn’t they enjoy a little luxury too? If Lani – or another member – drops out during the 18-day trek, the group loses £25,000. That seems like a small price to pay for a little peace and quiet.
David Attenborough explored the British grasslands in the final episode of Wild Isles (BBC1). Grass accounts for 40 per cent of the land in the UK, and life there seems to be one long orgy, occasionally interrupted by lunch.
David Attenborough explored the British grasslands in the final episode of Wild Isles (BBC1). Grass accounts for 40 per cent of the UK’s land, and life there seems to be one long orgy, occasionally interrupted by lunch
Before the male hare can get his bad way, he must fight with his chosen partner to show off his boxing prowess. When impressed, she judges how fast he can run.
How sweet bunnies must be jealous of their cousins. Male rabbits impress potential mates by peeing on them – often when it doesn’t work at first. It must work because, as Sir David put it rather timidly, ‘Rabbits are quite good at breeding’. Perhaps the most special story was that of the big blue butterfly. As a caterpillar, the great blue – through smell and sound – pretends to be an ant queen. If all goes well, a passing ant will take the caterpillar into the nest. Big mistake.
The caterpillar, still posing as the queen, eats all the ant larvae before falling asleep for the long process of becoming a butterfly.
The big blue was extinct in this country just 40 years ago. But now we have large and thriving communities.
This is actually a rare piece of good news for nature. Although of course not for the ants.
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