Britain's Next Top Model

Britain's Next Top Model
Format	Reality television
Created by	Tyra Banks
Directed by	James Macdonald Lorraine O'Keefe
Judges	Lisa Snowdon (2 - present) Huggy Ragnarsson (4 - present) Louis Mariette (5 - present) Gerry Deveaux (4) Lisa Butcher (1) Marie Helvin (1) Jonathan Phang (1 - 3) Paula Hamilton (2 - 3)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	55
Production
Running time	60 minutes (44 without commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel	LIVING TV (2005-present)
Picture format	576i (SDTV)
Original run	September 14, 2005 – present
External links
Official website

Britain's Next Top Model (often shortened to BNTM or Top Model) is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry.

It is based on the hit U.S. TV show America's Next Top Model, and it shares the same format. It is currently hosted by model Lisa Snowdon, who also serves as head judge. It was originally hosted by model Lisa Butcher, however she left after Cycle 1.

Show format

Each season of Britain's Next Top Model has from ten to twelve episodes and starts with twelve to fourteen contestants (twenty in Cycle 5). Each episode, one contestant is eliminated, though in rare cases a double elimination or no elimination was given by consensus of the judging panel. Makeovers are administered to contestants early in the season (usually after the first or second elimination in the finals), and a trip to an international destination is scheduled nearer the end of the cycle when four (or five in the case of Cycle 1) girls remain in the competition.

Each episode of Top Model covers the events of roughly a week of real time (however, while overseas, an episode may cover a shorter amount of time), and features a fashion challenge, photo shoot and/or commercial, a critique of each contestant and her performance by the judging panel led by Lisa Snowdon, and the elimination of one or more contestants (or in a rare case, no contestants are eliminated). As of Cycle 5, the panel includes fashion photographer and former model Huggy Ragnarsson and new judge distinguished milliner Louis Mariette. Previous judges included models Lisa Butcher, Marie Helvin and Paula Hamilton, industry expert Jonathan Phang and fashion guru Gerry DeVeaux. Usually, an additional guest judge will sit in on the panel every week. Each episode is usually associated with a theme in the world of modelling, such as dealing with the press in interviews, selling a commercial product, appearing in a runway show or going to visit the Models 1 offices for something similar to a go see.

An episode usually begins with the contestants receiving training in an area concurrent with the week's theme. For example, contestants may get coached in runway walking, improvisational acting, or applying make-up to suit various occasions. A related challenge soon follows, such as a mock runway show or interview, and a winner is chosen by a judge. She receives some sort of prize, such as clothing, a night out, an advantage at the next photo shoot or in Cycle 5, a contestant was exempt from elimination due to a challenge win. The challenge winner is occasionally allowed to share the benefits with a certain number of other contestants of her choice. However if more than one girl wins the challenge, the winners will go on to share the prize, instead of it being selective.

The next segment is a photo shoot, and each contestant's performance will reflect heavily on her judging for that week. Each season features photo shoots such as bikini or lingerie shots, beauty shots, posing nude or semi-nude, posing with another model, and posing with some sort of animal(s). Occasionally an advert may also be filmed for judging purposes, however unless they do not do a photo shoot that week, the advert doesn't affect the performance heavily.

The final segment of each episode is judging. Each contestant's photo is then shown and evaluated by the judging panel. After all photos have been evaluated, the contestants leave the room as the judges deliberate. The elimination process is ceremonious, as one by one Lisa reveals and hands out the photos of the contestants that have not been eliminated, in order of merit, occasionally saying something akin to, "Congratulations. You are still in the running towards becoming Britain's Next Top Model". The last two contestants who have not received their photos are brought up as "the bottom two", and Lisa critiques each one before revealing which of the two has been eliminated. However, there have been some exceptions, as Cycle 1, Cycle 4 and Cycle 5 each had a non-elimination due to a contestant leaving (Cycle 1) and because of a previous or future non-elimination (Cycle 4 and Cycle 5), Cycle 2, Cycle 4 and Cycle 5 each had a double elimination and in the premier episode of Cycle 5 five girls were eliminated outside of the elimination panel.

Prizes

Current prizes include a one million pound modeling contract and representation with Models 1, the front cover and a fashion spread in Company Magazine and a £100,000 contract with Max Factor. Former prizes included a £100,000 contract with cosmetics company Ruby and Millie Cosmetics (Cycles 1 & 3), an advertising campaign for the Ford Fiesta (Cycle 2), a fashion spread in B Magazine (Cycle 1) and representation with Beatrice Models in Milan (Cycle 1).

Cycles

Cycle	Premiere date		Winner	Runner-up		Other contestants in order of elimination	Number of contestants		International destination
1	September 14, 2005		Lucy Ratcliffe	Edwina Joseph		Marina Fallahi, Claire Hillier, Shauna Breen, Anne Kent (quit), Hayley Wilkins, Marisa Heath, Stephanie Jones, Naomi Teal, Tashi Brown, Jenilee Harris	12		Paris Milan
2	July 24, 2006		Lianna Fowler	Abigail Clancy		Yvette Stubbs, Nina Malone, Asha Hibbert, Lucy Flower, Sophia Price, Samantha Gerrard, Tamar Higgs, Georgina Edewor-Thorley, Sarah Butler, Amber Niemann, Jasmia Robinson	13		Marrakech
3	July 2, 2007		Lauren McAvoy	Louise Watts		Dani Lawrence, Krystal Hancock, Abigail Galatia, Natalie Nwagbo, Holly Alexander Ritchie, Carly Thompson, Sherece Campbell, Lucy Bennett, Stefanie Webber, Rebecca White	12		Rio de Janeiro
4	April 21, 2008		Alex Evans	Catherine Thomas		Sophie Roberts, Musayeroh Barrie, Louise Heywood, Lauren Donaldson-Stanley, Lynzi Arnott, Lisa Fowler, Leanne Nagle, Martha Braddell, Aaron Hunt, Charlotte Denton, Rachael Cairns, Stefanie Wilson	14		Cape Town
5	April 20, 2009		Mecia Simson	Sophie Sumner		Lisa-Ann Hillman, Lauren Wee, Chloe Cummings, Kasey Wynter, Madeleine Wheatley, Hayley Buchanan, Annaliese Dayes, Daisy Payne, Viola Szekely, Ashley Brown, Jade McSorley	13		Reykjavík Buenos Aires

See also

• Britain's Missing Top Model

References

External links

• Britain's Next Top Model Official Site
• Cycle 5 Application Form
• Britain's Next Top Model at the Internet Movie Database
• Britain's Next Top Model at TV.com
• BNTMania blogging site