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Throughout the years, reality television has seen an uptick in both the number and types of shows. From shows that challenge contestants physically to those that put them through the emotional ringer, the genre has expanded in ways previously unimaginable. Too Hot to Handle (‘THTH’), one of Netflix’s own reality shows, has defied the way dating game shows operate.
The show aims to help its participants find meaningful connections by requiring abstinence from physical touch. That’s right, even including kissing. Break a rule, and the collective group’s potential prize winnings are docked. So, why then would a young single hoping to find love – or at least lust – apply for such a show? TheThings spoke with THTH Season 3 Winner, Harry Johnson, to understand more about how he ended up on the show.
How Harry Met Lana
Hailing from Middlesbrough, UK, Harry told us he was considered a big fish in a small pond by friends and family alike. Being from a smaller village, he had an itch to explore beyond his hometown, attending party seasons abroad and jumping at new, adventurous opportunities.
That said, it’s no wonder Harry was enticed by the chance to be on a TV show. But exactly how did Harry come across THTH?
“Every time I saw someone on a reality TV show I thought it would be fun…I didn’t actually apply, I got scouted on Instagram. I made some good relationships…that kind of kept me in the loop. They approach people they think are suitable for the show, and from there they’ll interview you.”
The catch when it comes to Too Hot to Handle is that its contestants are highly unaware that this is the show they’re signing up for from the jump. Producers convince potential islanders that they’ll be on a show they call Pleasure Island, sailing the seas on a private yacht and exploring countries and islands along the way. Harry tells us,
“I’m so impressed by how well they kept it a secret…they even have merchandise that says Pleasure Island…The only thing I was a bit skeptical about was that it was during Covid, but I didn’t look into it too much.”
Well, suffice it to say your gut never lies, just like The Marauder’s Map.
While viewers are clued in, for the contestants, it’s not until hours after they arrive at the villa in Turks and Caicos that the twist is revealed by the show’s virtual assistant host, Lana. We asked Harry: what was the feeling when you found out you were actually on Too Hot to Handle?
“I was absolutely gobsmacked…if you watch the first episode back I was scratching my head…I’d seen [the show] advertised, but I’d never watched it, so even when Lana came out, I thought it was a lava lamp.”
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So, Is Harry Still Close With His Fellow Islanders?
Much to Harry’s surprise, Lana is not, in fact a lava lamp, but a rule enforcer meant to keep the game honest, calling out those who refuse to adhere to the stipulations she set forth. While rule breaks are expected on a show like THTH, Season 3’s contestants Nathan Soan Mngomezulu and Holly Scarfone broke the show’s record for the most money lost.
Harry and now ex-girlfriend, Beaux Raymond, on the other hand, adhered to Lana’s requirements for the entirety of the show’s duration. With that in mind, what were Harry’s thoughts on the rule breaking?
“To be fair, we all did agree there was no money to begin with, so if you do feel like you are forming a connection, by all means explore it…we’d all agreed to be quite honest…[but], it was costing us a lot. After a while, it got frustrating.”
Suffice it to say, Harry wasn’t the only THTH contestant who was unhappy with Nathan and Holly’s choices. Nonetheless, Harry tells us there’s no bad blood between any of the Season 3 participants.
Now, just shy of 1 year since the show’s airing, we wanted to know whether Harry’s kept in touch with his fellow islanders.
“We were initially. I could still talk to any of them, I could ring them anytime…Everyone goes on their own path, like Georgia [Hassarati] has ended up living in America with Harry [Jowsey], Truth’s had a baby…I speak to Izzy quite a bit because she’s from up North.”
Ah, yes, such is the reality of long-distance friendships.
Would Harry Ever Participate In Another Reality Show?
Having built strong connections and garnering a huge Instagram following, has Harry’s taste for reality TV been quenched? Or should he like to return to viewers’ screens on a different reality show of his choosing?
“Yeah, I would [like to]. I’d like to go on SAS: Who Dares Wins, The Challenge, Big Brother actually…Once you’ve been on a show, you wouldn’t do a normal show again, you’d do a celebrity version.”
Well, here’s hoping Celebrity Big Brother makes a comeback debut for the first time since 2019. And if not, well, I’m sure we’ll see you on our screens again soon, Harry.
