Coffee Shop Owner's Wild Ride on Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge!

Alice Foster, a 29-year-old coffee shop owner from Lincoln, recently had a unique adventure when she competed on Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge. Alice, who runs Coffee Depot on Carholme Road with her fiancée Harry Weatherill, decided to apply for the show on a whim after originally wanting to be on another reality show called The Traitors. Squid Game: The Challenge is a real-life version of the popular South Korean drama Squid Game, where hundreds of contestants compete in various games for a massive cash prize. In this season, 456 players battled for a prize fund of £3. 66 million. Alice described her experience as 'surreal' and said it was the 'longest day of her life. '

The original Squid Game series, released in 2021, became famous for its intense games and dramatic storylines. In the fictional show, players competed in traditional Korean children's games, but with a dark twist: losing meant being eliminated in a very serious way. The show was known for its colorful sets, mysterious guards in pink suits, and a giant doll that watched the players. The reality spin-off, Squid Game: The Challenge, replaced the dangerous elements with exploding dye packs to show when someone was out of the game. Alice was excited to be part of the show, but her time was cut short. She was eliminated in the first 15 minutes along with 200 other contestants during a noisy and chaotic counting game. She said, 'It was absolute carnage, I'm sure there were physical fights breaking out. Everyone was screaming trying to get people to be quiet but it was just adding to the noise. '

Despite her early exit, Alice found the experience unforgettable. She spent a 10-hour day filming in London, starting at 5:00 in the morning and finishing late in the evening. She explained that the set was very immersive, with no clocks and hidden cameras everywhere. The bright lights, ink pack explosives, and being surrounded by hundreds of people made the whole experience overwhelming. Alice was disappointed to leave so soon but said it was still the 'coolest experience. ' If she had won the prize money, she would have bought a holiday home for her family and invested the rest in her coffee shop. Alice's story shows how taking chances can lead to exciting adventures, even if things don't go as planned. Her coffee shop, Coffee Depot, is a cozy spot with a dark wooden exterior, black writing, and a welcoming atmosphere. Alice hopes her story will inspire others to try new things and embrace new opportunities.