When does the new 2021 series of The Circle UK start?

25 February 2021, 08:27 | Updated: 9 March 2021, 14:40

When will The Circle UK return to Channel 4? Picture: Channel 4

By Polly Foreman

The Circle season three: release date, cast and everything we know about the upcoming Channel 4 show.

The Circle season three will be airing on Channel 4 very soon, and we can't wait to see what the new season has in store.

If you aren't familiar with its format, it sees a bunch of contestants move into an apartment building in separate flats, only meeting each other on a social media app: 'The Circle'.

The catch, though, is that each person can be a 'catfish' (and invent a fake persona) to attempt to become most popular on the social media site and win the show.

It will air just after The Circle Celebrity, which has its first episode tonight (9 March 2021).

Here's your need-to-know on when it's released.

The Circle UK is hosted by Emma Willis. Picture: Channel 4

When is season three of The Circle UK released?

The new series starts on Tuesday 16 March at 9:15pm.

Will there be a celebrity version of The Circle?

Channel 4 also confirmed that a celebrity version of The Circle will be released on 9 March 2021, with a number of famous faces taking on the social media game.

The celeb version of the show will be released early this year, and feature the likes of Denise van Outen, Saffron Barker, Melvin Odoom, Lady Leshurr, Duncan James, Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams.

Speaking about the upcoming series, host Emma Willis previously said: "The Circle is just brilliant, unmissable television. I loved every minute of being a part of it and I'm delighted to be returning to it for another series where I'll be right at the centre of all the mischief and drama!

"To add to that, we’re also doing a celeb version - I can't wait to see who’ll be in the line-up and whether they’ll play as themselves or as another celebrity, it’s going to be incredible."

Gilly Greenslade, who commissioned the series for Channel 4 said: "When we were developing the series three years ago, I knew it would reflect how we live but I never expected it to be quite so prophetic.

"I hope that this show will bring some much-needed joy and hilarity to our TV screens."

"Now many more of us have had a taste of living our lives isolated and online, I am excited to see the strategies and tactics that the new players bring to the game.

Click here for your need-to-know on The Celebrity Circle.