How does The Neighbourhood work? Rules behind ITV game show explained

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ITV’s new game show, The Neighbourhood, explores how well families and their neighbours know each other – with a big cash prize up for grabs!

The new series, hosted by Graham Norton, features six families living together in a house called Keep Your Enemies Close. Players will need to remember this advice if they want to be successful and win the game.

They might share a coffee at the café or relax with a drink at the Uppin Arms pub, but trouble always seems to be just around the corner for them.

Let’s break down how the game works. Here’s a complete guide to The Neighbourhood, including what players are competing for.

What is the prize?

The grand prize for The Neighbourhood is a staggering £250,000.

The winning household will receive the prize money, but there’s no requirement for how they share it amongst themselves.

It’s really cool to see teams like The Uni Boys already talking about splitting any winnings equally! But it seems like for a lot of other families competing, they’re either planning to use the money for something special together, or one person will likely get the biggest cut. It’s interesting to see such different approaches.

What happens in the game?

On the reality show The Neighbourhood, six families are moving into a shared house called KeepYourEnemies Close, and will live there for as long as three weeks.

During those three weeks, they will get to know each other via a series of social events and games.

As a critic, I’m intrigued by how this show will handle communication. Apparently, Graham Norton will be the central hub, using a group WhatsApp chat to keep all the participating households in the loop about what’s happening. It’s a clever, modern way to connect everyone and build tension – I’m curious to see how that plays out on screen!

In The Neighbourhood, how well you get along with other players is really important – the more popular you are, the better you’ll do.

How are households eliminated from The Neighbourhood?

Over the course of the 12 episodes, families will be forced to give things up, and it’s as difficult as you might imagine.

Here’s how the removal process will work: Each house will internally decide who they want to eliminate, and then one person from each house will announce their choice in the square.

They announce their choice by placing a large ‘For Sale’ sign on the front lawn of the selected house.

Each house can watch the decision play out from inside their homes.

After everyone has voted, the household with the fewest signs will be eliminated. A blue removal van will arrive to pack up their belongings and take them away.

Graham commented on the difficult emotional impact of the removals, saying it was heartbreaking to witness families having to put their homes up for sale. He emphasized how deeply the process affected those involved.

I really enjoyed watching the homeowners’ reactions as they saw people approach their houses with ‘For Sale’ signs. It was a brilliant and captivating part of the show – truly compelling television!

Can The Neighbourhood households get immunity?

Look, I’ve seen a lot of dystopian thrillers, and this one really hammers home its central premise. Basically, if you want to survive in this neighborhood, your family’s safety completely depends on winning these strange, high-stakes games held in this place called the Square. It’s a brutal system, and the film makes it very clear: win or face the consequences. It’s a simple concept, but it drives the entire narrative.

All of the games are appropriately Neighbourhood-themed.

One challenge requires families to answer questions while spinning on a seven-meter washing line, and another involves finding over 2,500 gnomes hidden around the fields and woods.

They also play a game where they watch for activity at night, almost like being extra watchful of what’s happening outside.

Let the games begin!

The Neighbourhood starts Friday 24 April at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

Don’t forget to add The Neighbourhood to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download it now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance journalist who covers television, from popular reality shows like Love Is Blind to science fiction series like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, accredited with the NCTJ Gold Standard, and has experience working at Digital Spy and Daily Express US, where she previously held deputy editor roles.

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2026-04-24 23:06