A good or bad imitation ? Well I started off quite keen on this but the gloss faded fairly quickly.
Other reviewers have detailed the main premise of the show and how, over time the prize becomes smaller ...shares not a Million. (That's okay if you know from the off that that is what's happening...not the initial impression given)
For me a major irritation from virtually the beginning (second episode) was that it was clear who would end up in the final because they'd skewed the play so that the highest 'earner' was immune from play. It also became clear that food would become an issue and control/ownership of it certainty revealed some people for who they are.
On a personal viewing level there was one player who is probably the most objectionable contestant I've ever seen in a reality survivor type show.
And as a viewer, if they decide to do it again get rid of Ant Middleton...he is dreadful he just hasn't got the charisma or skills to voice over a game show like this. His other show demanded very little from him but in this one his gaps showed. In fact they need to re jig the constant and repetitive stream of words from both Ant and the contestants...it was the same thing over, over and over again. Possible it's because the people competing weren't articulate or interesting enough to fill the time. They certainly lacked the strategic skills they could have used...except for the production rigging of the play.
And the final game...(contestants looking suddenly showered, brushed and in freshly ironed clothes) well, the final game required luck. Just luck..And do we really have to hear over and over again why they want the money...
I'd love to say I'd enjoyed the series...all I can say is it's okay. I've actually had the last episode saved to watch for several weeks because it's so frustrating to watch but curiosity won out.
But as I'm watching it and writing...I have to repeat their last game is luck...luck...and that is so poor after everything that's gone before.
So it's a series that starts with a bang and ends on a decided whimper.