The Circle series three winner revealed

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: April 9 2021 | 23:35

Last updated: April 15 2021 | 07:28

The winner is crowned as the third series of The Circle reaches its conclusion.

Felix, aka catfish Natalya, has been crowned the winner of The Circle series three.

Natalya, a 30-year-old military police officer from Surrey, tied with OG player Manrika in the final ratings but won the £100,000 prize courtesy of a higher number of first-place rankings.

She entered the game in episode five playing her real-life soldier friend Felix and quickly formed a bond with Manrika while ingratiating herself with the OG players.

"I must play a good man," she told host Emma Willis after the result was revealed. "If I [played the game as] me, I would have been gone. I had to be the perfect man."

Earlier, Natalya had come face to face with Circle "girlfriend" Manrika for the first time in the Inner Circle, revealing herself to be a catfish.

"I am a British soldier, so what I said was real, but I came in as Felix because in my work, as a woman, I don't get seen," she told a shocked Manrika. "This is more of a social experiment for me."

"As a woman, for one second did you not feel bad thinking that you were playing with someone's emotions?" Manrika asked her.

"Every day," Natalya answered. "I came in here and thought I was just going to flirt with everyone. I've honestly had so many issues with doing this but it is a game.

"But everything I've said to you about you being amazing and incredible is real. I stood behind you from the beginning to the end."

Elsewhere, Andy finished in third place, while catfish Syed - real name Hashu - was fourth and 'Father Tom', aka former players Pippa and Femi/Joey, came last.