The Inheritance: The first player is eliminated from the devious game

Entrepreneur James was the first player to be eliminated from Channel 4’s devious game featuring Elizabeth Hurley and Rob Rinder. 

Interview with James: 

What were your first impressions upon finally entering the game, the house, your fellow players, meeting them for the first time, and, of course, meeting The Executor?
It's an absolutely phenomenal setting. The challenges in this show are to do with the estate, or the house, to unlock money in the will. It’s an incredibly cohesive story. Meeting the other players - what a relief because I was very nervous about who I was going up against. As for the other players, we are all very different, from different walks of life so that’s really cool.

Was there anybody you particularly got close to and had good alliances with?
Hannah and Emma. I do hope I keep in contact with them, two absolute sweet peas. Both, I believe, are here for the money. I did get a little bit emotional when I heard their reasonings, the difference it would make to mortgages and financial freedom. I also really bonded with Pat and Ferg. They joined my alliance in my final bid for survival, and I do hope they continue on. Out of everybody, those four are people I hope to see outside.

Did you have a strategy, and did you manage to stick to it? 
My Trojan Horse strategy! I started off with the trust building and then I ditched that. I realised that actually this is too slow a process and maybe you don't need to try and build trust with everybody. So officially, yesterday morning, I quit my Trojan Horse strategy! I stepped up in the requests, and became more vocal, far more vocal in the division ceremonies and it worked up to a point. I still wouldn't change in hindsight because I can see so many positives for my exit now.

How does it feel to be leaving now? It sounds like you're quite at peace. 
I'm very at peace leaving now. I definitely have more fight within me but it’s just not now my time to do it. I can't not be happy, because I've done a once in a lifetime, crazy thing that thousands of people have applied for. 

Tell us about the requests and taking part in those in those challenges. How did that feel? And do you have a favourite?
The wine tasting was interesting. I was in the wine tasting group and it was hilarious. You had to drill the wine manually. There was tasting but I drank salt water, red wine, anchovy juice, vinegar and eventually a red wine. Why is it always in that order, why is it not red wine first?! We actually drained over 80 litres of red wine, and the other team only needed something like 10 litres. So, we really smashed it.

Who do you think will go far? Who would you like to see go far?
I really want Hannah to win. It would be so emotional if she if she were to go far. I wouldn't say, anyone here deserves it the most because it's a competition, and there's still a game of playing strategies afoot. Funnily enough - although I know he's in an alliance - because he's such an awesome bloke, Cam. Those two I would love to see make it as far as possible. 

Do you have a standout highlight of the entire experience?
My standout moment would be the wine cellar. The first challenge with Emma, Pat and Hannah. Covered in red wine, figuring it out, the one liners we were saying to one another, that was a standout moment. 

I think viewers at home may think my standout moment was my final division ceremony. I lost my voice from speaking up strongly and I got out everything I needed to say. It actually helped with my agenda to try and get as many votes. There was then a plot twist which changed everything of course. However, at the last moment, I spoke up, defended with honour and bowed out very professionally.

Stream The Inheritance on Channel 4 now: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-inheritance