The Circle: Surrey police officer scoops £10k prize

Natalya, 30, tied with 24-year-old recruitment consultant Manrika, from Birmingham, but won out after earning the most first place votes across the series.

Third place went to 34-year-old company director Andy from Solihull, while fourth place went to 28-year-old content creator Hashu from Birmingham, who was playing his uncle Syed.

Fifth place, meanwhile, went to priest Tom, played by 26-year-old entrepreneur Joey from London and 26-year-old paralegal Pippa from Manchester.

The remaining players rated each other one final time with Natalya taking home the cash prize despite adopting a fake identity – known as “catfishing” – for the duration of her time on the show.

The Channel 4 reality programme, now in its third series, sees players communicate and compete with each other online while housed separately in a block of flats.

Responding to her win, Natalya joked in the studio: “I must play a good man.”

Asked about her strategy for playing Felix, Natalya told host Emma Willis: “If I was me, I would have been gone. I had to be the perfect man. What I see everyday at work is what I created.”

Channel 4: Natalya

Natalya joined The Circle in episode five playing as 29-year-old soldier Felix.

On two occasions, Felix was voted by his fellow contestants as “influencer” and avoided a double-blocking twist, but ended up last in the ratings during one important vote.

However, he was carried to the final by a strong bond with Manrika, Andy and Dorothy.

In 2018, Alex Hobern scooped the cash prize after pretending to be a woman to the other players.

The Circle is available to stream on demand on All 4