The Insider

Series one, episode one
In spite of the sinister potential of its central gimmick, ‘The Insider’ plays like a milder, kinder ‘Apprentice’. Four candidates for a job – in this opener, it’s event planning – are joined by an undercover employee, who reports back to her bosses as part of a ten-day recruitment process that sees them living and working together.

In truth, after the compulsory initial posturing, the applicants out themselves as being actually quite nice, although not necessarily very competent. Veils are forgotten in bridal displays, deadlines are missed and mild bitching is had, but there’s not really enough time to love or loathe any of them with much enthusiasm – especially as the mole is revealed to us halfway through. Even so, it would be a hard heart indeed that wasn’t warmed by a character-building conclusion that ensures no one goes home entirely empty-handed.