This summer saw the birth of a reality TV phenomenon. The eyes of the world were turned towards Chile for 69 days as 33 miners competed for glory 622m below ground. As the dust settles over Copiapo Cave, The Cheese Grater takes a look back at the mining madness.
At ten minutes past midnight on the 13th of October, Florencio Avalos, 31, be- came the first participant evicted. Wearing his trademark sunglasses, he tried to convey the emotion of the experience.
I'm sorry to be the first miner voted out - I thought I was giving the public what they wanted. Its been a great experi- ence and I'll take a lot from it; I'm completely over my fear of shitting in front of people!’
It now seems like years ago that the epic series began with the ceremonial mine collapse. The 33 unknowing Chilean workmen, whom we have all grown to love and hate, were controver- sially sealed into the luxurious 50m2 living space.
After infrequent use during the testing phase, the space-wasting safety ladders were removed in time for the show. Additions to the usual amenities include two benches and the battery from a truck to power head-torches. Once the battery ran out, the remaining min- emates were left simply with the intriguing prospect of a dark, hungry death. What a twist!
Although they generally met the demands of their daily challenges, the minemates fell short at the ‘Rations Challenge’, a fan favourite. Despite a strong start, the contestants ran out of food on day 67 and, as punishment, were condemned to spend the last 48 hours of their ordeal hungry.
The hot gossip this year is, of course, budding relationship between Omar Reygada, 56, and his subterranean toy boy Jimmy Sanchez, 19. The Cheese Grater caught up with the young Jimmy moments after fifteen-minute ‘ascent of shame’.
He commented, ‘WHAT HAPPENS MINE STAYS IN THE MINE! Are those civil partnership bells I hear?
There to meet Sanchez were his wife, his three mistresses and the President of Chile.
The international press unanimously congratulated the series producer, Alejandro Bohn, for the gripping two-month bonanza. ‘In a way, we're all stuck in a dark hole, try- ing desperately to claw our way out - I re- ally just addressed that innate melancholy’.
An attempt to replicate the immura- tion sensation in China failed spectacularly as 26 of the mining hopefuls were killed during the first programme in October 16th. This version has proved less popular.