Jonathan Ross’s new show Handcuffed proves the UK still knows no barrier like a class barrier

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I’ve definitely experienced being stuck in close quarters with someone. I remember a six-night train journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway where I shared a cabin with a Russian man who didn’t speak any English. We mostly kept to ourselves during the days, but each evening we’d play quick, cheerful games of chess – though I wasn’t very good and rarely won a piece!

Thankfully, we didn’t have to go as far as the participants on Channel 4’s new show, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing. In this unusual competition and social experiment, nine pairs of strangers are literally chained together 24/7 for weeks to see if they can not only endure it, but actually form a connection with each other.

The trope of two unlikely characters being forced together in handcuffs is a common one in movies and TV. It started gaining popularity with films like ‘No Mercy,’ where Richard Gere and Kim Basinger’s characters were chained together, and it quickly became predictable that their initial bickering would eventually turn into romance.

The film The Defiant Ones famously featured two prisoners, Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier, chained together and on the run. The warden jokingly let them go, assuming they’d quickly turn on each other. However, despite their differences, the two men ultimately learned they had more in common than they thought – a message similar to one later popularized by Bill Clinton, who often said, “There is more to unite us than divide us.”

The show Handcuffed presents a hopeful outlook as contestants face a unique challenge. Host Jonathan Ross describes it as a way to potentially help unite a divided nation, while also offering a £100,000 prize to the winning couple.

Ross says he hopes couples will stay together, but it’s questionable whether he truly means it. Reality TV thrives on drama, not just happy relationships. Ross – or rather, the researchers working for him – seems to be intentionally pairing people who clash, much like the producers of shows like Love Island, because conflict is what attracts viewers.

The first episode introduces Jo, a passionate feminist focused on inner strength, and Reuben, a very confident fitness enthusiast who spends hours at the gym. He repeatedly calls her “baby,” and when she pushes back, he dismisses it as people being overly sensitive. Will this unlikely pair become the next iconic on-screen duo, like Richard Gere and Kim Basinger?

Tilly, a barmaid known for her colorful language, finds herself unexpectedly paired with Anthony, a wealthy car collector obsessed with good manners. While Tilly is speechless when she sees his Rolls-Royce, she’s deeply moved by the story of his upbringing. She sums it up by saying, “It explains a lot,” and that sentiment really captures the heart of the show.

The most interesting duo is Sir Benjamin, a baronet, and George, his former prison officer, who is still in handcuffs. Their dynamic is immediately apparent when they arrive at Sir Ben’s historic country home, and George cheekily asks if Sir Ben has any pets not named after conservative political figures. George, despite his working-class background, surprises everyone with his knowledge of history and his acceptance of Sir Ben. However, after spending just a few hours together – including viewing art by a controversial German artist (“Adolf was a bit much,” the baron concedes) and enduring a disastrous dinner party reminiscent of a dark historical gathering – even George’s patience wears thin, culminating in a sudden cry of “Cutters now!”

This shows us that, despite what politicians claim, class differences remain a major dividing force in this country. It also reminds us that understanding people – like the prison guard in the film The Defiant Ones – is crucial. For the next installment, I propose a simple test: lock these two individuals in a Siberian train carriage for six nights. What’s the worst that could realistically happen?

Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing will air on Monday 2 March at 9pm on Channel 4.

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Authors

Caroline Frost

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2026-02-25 11:34