Format

One of the most interesting formats this season is 100% Norwegian: Boksen (The Box), a reality competition show created, produced and distributed by the independent Norwegian production company Seefood TV in cooperation with TV2, that premiered on the Norwegian channel in January 2025.
The concept is really intriguing: 12 well-known personalities are placed in separate boxes, unaware of their location or what awaits them. When the door opens, they find themselves in the middle of a challenge. They must work out what the task is and how to complete it without any prior information. They don't know where they're going or what the challenge is. Over the course of ten episodes and thirty tasks, they will confront one of the most fundamental human emotions: the fear of the unknown.
The challenges on the show are quite varied, ranging from frightening to absurd. For example, one of the challenges involves a memory task and also requires the contestants to jump out of a helicopter, which certainly isn't a typical memory test, and there is also an absurd mission that takes place while the contestants are on the ice, adding an unpredictable element to the competition.
The contestants will live together at a fixed base and each episode will culminate in a duel where two contestants will battle it out to stay in the game. The winner of The Box will be the one who manages to overcome the most unknown challenges.
The format was successful. After airing in Norway, where it was renewed for a second season, The Box aired on TV2 in Denmark this August (episode 1 attracted 720,000 viewers, winning all key demographics under 50) and it is currently being localised in several other countries, including the UK: ITV has recently announced that former footballer Gary Lineker will present the show, which is expected to air in early 2026.
From Norway to the rest of the world…
Axel Fiacco
To read about a brand-new touching social experiment and a game show produced with only £50 go to: https://cmmespresso.substack.com/p/norwegian-formats

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