The awful pet food taste testing task that served as the centrepiece of the new reality programme Rise and Fall, which pushed its competitors to their limits, had viewers collectively retching.
The Grafters (who dwell in the Basement at the request of the powerful Rulers above them in the Penthouse) walked up to the (many) pet food dishes to earn money for the series’ collective prize pool.
The Grafters required to clear increasing size plates of pet food, ranging from biscuits to meat pieces in gravy for huge canines, while working together on a production line.
The Grafters had to consume everything on the plates as they passed by, taking at least one mouthful from each passing dish, before reaching the end of the conveyor belt.
The amount saved for the prize money on Greg James’ new programme grew with each ever larger dish of dog and cat food, beginning with £1000 for the first plate of dog biscuits.
The Rulers decided how many plates the Grafters had to eat during the Work Shift, with newly elevated Ruler Marina, 18, pushing for her former Grafters to be challenged, which meant they had to eat four plates in total: dog biscuits, vegetarian dog food, seaweed and herring cat food, and lamb and liver dog food in jelly.
Consequently, the Channel 4 show’s audience found this task very compelling.
‘I’d have smashed that eating… wasn’t sat here heaving from just watching at all,’ tweeted one fan sarcastically.
Another bluntly added: ‘I’m going to be sick myself watching #RiseandFall tonight.’
‘I can’t take this,’ moaned a third, while another joked: ‘When I’m feeding my cat I sometimes gag at the smell never mind eating it.’
‘The collective retching of Twitter audience watching the Grafters chomp down pet food. Pass the sick bucket anyone,’ requested one viewer.
Although all of the Grafters put in a solid showing, tensions arose as job coach James questioned politics student Sophie’s usage of a teaspoon when others had progressed onto tablespoons, which she did not like, calling it ‘poor leadership’.
Nevertheless, James described it as him asking for assistance since both builder Jack and care home manager Connor were unable to keep the pet food down.
He was stationed at the end of the line and was entrusted with clearing every dish, which he did – even if it meant taking repeated mouthfuls to ensure the plate was empty.
Because of their achievement, the Grafters contributed an astonishing £15,000 to the prize money for all of the show’s participants.
The challenge was similarly enlightening in the Penthouse, where Ruler and postal worker Prince took a step back to witness how Cheryl controlled and led the other Rulers.
Factions formed after the Rulers were charged with voting for one of their number to lose their authority, with Marina protected by her newly obtained Ruler status.
It was ultimately up to her at the conclusion of the programme to decide who should be booted out as a Ruler between Prince and trainee nurse Cheryl.
Rise and Fall continues Wednesday at 10pm on Channel 4 and All 4.
