UK reality TV viewers have been doing a double-take after one contestant revealed he became a grandfather at just 33.
Britain rarely struggles for standout telly, whether it’s Taskmaster pulling in huge names, The Great British Baking Show continuing to charm audiences, or the conversation-starting twists of The Traitors.
Now Channel 4 has added another high-stakes series to the mix: The Hunt: Prey vs Predator.
Often described as a “real life Hunger Games”, the show puts contestants through an intense chase format for a £100,000 ($134,020) prize. Among those taking part is Bolton-based Nathan, who has surprised many by disclosing that he’s already a grandfather despite still being in his early 30s.
The competition splits players into two groups: the red team, called the Predators, and the blue team, called the Prey.
The Predators use sophisticated tracking tools to locate and catch the Prey, while the Prey must take on tasks that can boost their prize money.
Anyone from the Prey team who gets caught doesn’t simply leave the game; they’re moved across to join the Predators, and then face the risk of being voted out at the end of each episode.
Nathan, a 33-year-old dentist, drew particular attention after sharing on his Channel 4 profile that he’s a father of six and a “grandfather of one”.
“Me and my wife run a casting agency and two private drama schools. Life’s busy. I’m a normal lad from the north and I’m just up for a bit of a laugh,” the ex-military man added.
He also said his family doesn’t like using the word “grandad”, with Metro reporting they prefer “Papa” because “the word grandad [is] really uncool”.
The revelation quickly set social media buzzing, with viewers struggling to process the idea of a 33-year-old being old enough to have a grandchild.
“He’s 33 and he’s a grandad!?,” one X user commented.
“Surprised no one had follow up questions for Nathan being a grandad at 33!? Maybe he’s with an older person with children already,” another reasoned.
A third reported: “Nathan. A grandad, at 33?!!!”
Nathan has also shared that a major reason he joined The Hunt: Prey vs Predator was personal: he wanted to show himself he could still push through the challenge after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
According to the Mayo Clinic, FND is a neurological condition linked to changes in how brain networks function.
Reports suggest around 50,000 to 100,000 Americans are currently living with the condition.
Nathan said his symptoms have included seizures and weakness on his left side, and described the programme as a way to test whether he could still cope physically, calling it a “personal challenge to see whether [he] can still get up and run around a forest.”
New episodes of The Hunt: Prey vs Predator air on Channel 4 every Sunday.