Hit the jump to see if your entry was selected:

Nick, whose subtle jibe at advertising was a cracker;

Which year did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone? – 1876
Contestants need to find a ticket hidden inside one of 50 McDonalds cheeseburgers. Advertising makes people rich!

Wyatt, who opted for a cruel but unusual challenge;

The last clue to the first memory card (at the service station) was what year did Alexander Bell invent the telephone?
Challenge – Dress up as a clown and entertain 30 kids who have had nothing but red cordial and lollies.

A catty but oh so true comment helped Shaun score;

The Pin code to the EFTPOS card is the year Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
I would have a clue put inside the brain of the girl who was competing last night – because she didn’t have a clue!

While Hayden’s twisted thinking made perfect sense to us;

The final clue to the first memory card was the year Alexander Bell invented the telephone (1876).
As the Clue Master I’d set the contestants the twisted challenge of discovering the next clue using absolutely no modern technology, except the phone.

Congrats, guys and thanks to everyone who took the time to enter. And props to FOX8 for coughing up the loot.

[The Phone]

• What is the final clue to the first memory card (hint: you’ll find it at the petrol station), and
• Using the comments field below, tell us in 25 words or less what challenge you would make the contestants face if you were the ‘Clue Master’.

Entries close January 21st at 5pm. Just a word of warning, though; the comp is also running on our sister sites Defamer and Giz. So to beat all those gossip and gadget-heads and win the high speed smartphone, with LCD screen, you’ll need to be extra creative…

For a run through of what the Bold is all about, hit the link for a rundown by the techies over at Giz.

The Phone premieres 8.30pm tonight, on FOX8.

[Terms and Conditions]

[The Phone]

Read on for the spiel from FOX8 and head to The Phone Game website to pre-register for your chance to win. And hey, the prize may not be for 25k, but it’s not a bad alternative, right?

“The Phone Game is an interactive playground for the Quizmaster running for the 8 week duration of FOX8’s new show. It’s where he collects things, gathers pieces of information, sets up tasks or simply leaves objects lying around. Photographs, videos, newspaper clippings, maps and artefacts – they all contain clues that will unlock the next level and reveal prizes.

It’s your job to navigate through the ‘Network’ as fast as possible, unlock the five Memory cards and be on your way to winning!

There is $5000 cash up for grabs for 1 lucky major prize winner and 8 Blackberry Storms for each weekly winner.

After completing different levels in the game you unlock memory cards that contain numbers which make up a unique code. Once you have finished, the 10 digit code is used as the SMS number where you text in the word “phone” to receive your prize.”

The Phone Game is now open for pre-registration.

[The Phone]

Good looking characters who can’t remember each others’ names, tension, intrigue, backstabbing and an impromptu aerobics class… what more could you ask for from an episode of Day’s Of Our Lives in a reality-come-action game show? I mean, really?

After being inundated with info and teasers for Fox8’s new game program The Phone, I honestly have to admit the whole answer-some-random-ringing-phone-and-get-lead-on-a-crazy-intense-video-game/The Bourne Identity-inspired-cat-and-mouse-chase-for-25K concept has really got me in. I just want to know how I can “randomly” find a ringing phone and have a chance to win some dosh. And if that “random” ringing phone just so happens to be in someone else’s, say, hand or bag, can I use the show as an excuse when I get arrested?

Hit the jump for another contestant interview.

The Phone premieres 8.30pm, Monday 19th on Fox 8.

[The Phone]

What was your first impression of the show?
To be honest, when I auditioned, I didn’t actually know what I was getting myself into. Although it had been done in The Netherlands and Justin Timberlake was doing it in the US, it had never been done before in Australia. It was a new format.

But, you’re not really the host of the show though, are you- what is it you do exactly?
I guess I’m a bit of a puppeteer. I play a fictional character who gives contestants clues and challenges to suit my agenda- all for the opportunity to win $25,000. At the end of the day, if the contestants meet the requirements to my game, I praise them with lots of cash.

Your character also seems to have an interesting back story…
He’s quite young , wealthy, vibrant, full of life, and he’s got nothing better to do than make deals, buy up properties and lead these unsuspecting contestants on a wild goose chase.

What a life, hey?
It’s great isn’t it?

So what are some of the challenges contestants face?
Well in one, my assistant is getting married and I decide to take him sky diving for his last chance of freedom. The contestants have to follow my lead all the time. So they have to get on the plane, solve a riddle and jump out of the plane to the beach where the memory card [clue] has been planted- which they have to find it in order to get to the next level of the game. You know, they’re mental and physical challenges that drive you nuts and the contestants are absolutely exhausted by the end. If they make it through the end of the day, honestly they deserve the money.

And there’s a bit of a twist at the end…?
Only one of the contestants can win. So if they’ve paid attention to the clues along the way, and at the end answer three questions correctly, then they win the cash.

Did many people share the prize?
Some did and some didn’t. When someone didn’t share the prize money, it was emotional. You felt for the other contestant because it really was a joint effort. But it makes for great viewing.

But money can get deducted from the 25k, right?
If they don’t win a challenge, I deduct $1,000-$2,000 from the briefcase. A memory card can cost $4,000. Sure, the money wasn’t theirs in the first place, but if they make it to the end of the game, instead of $25,000 they might only win $20,000.

Is it possible to win the full 25k?
It’s definitely possible. One of the Melbourne guys did really well…

What do you think the reaction to the show will be?
I think Australia is going to love it. If it’s a show that viewers can get involved with, where you start talking to the TV and think, ‘you idiot, it’s there. I can’t believe you missed that’, then it’s very good television.

The Phone premieres 8.30pm, Monday 19th on Fox 8.

[The Phone]

So, The Phone; it’s an interesting concept, but kinda complicated. How would you describe the show?
There’s so much to it, it’s difficult to explain. I think probably the easiest way to describe it is it’s a cross between The Bourne Identity and The Amazing Race.

So if it’s difficult to explain, why bother- why not go with a tried and tested, simple, game show format?
Well, it’s just so different. It’s a unique format that hasn’t been done before and I think, purely and simply because of that, it has a lot of potential to peak viewer interest. One of the truly charming things about the program, is that it’s kind of a heightened reality; whilst we’re using real, unsuspecting contestants, there’s a terrific subplot or drama that unfolds throughout. In fact, every episode has a storyline. So there’s a true depth to it unlike any other reality program. It steps into a completely unknown reality format.

It reminds me of that show from a few years back called The Mole.
Yeah, yeah there are definite similarities.

It must have been pretty interesting for you to be producing a reality program that is essentially scripted television?
Oh absolutely. It was a relentless and demanding show to put together. Whilst Michelle, our writer, could start with a blank paper and create this wonderful back story and manufacture these clever and quirky little clues, essentially our key cast in each episode, aside from [host] Justin Melvey, was two unsuspecting people who had been plucked off the street, by answering a phone. So the slightly terrifying part of that was whilst we could invest in research- walk routes and figure out it would take x minutes to find a clue- if the contestants didn’t find it on time, it would cascade throughout the entire filming. Depending on whether they found the clue or went in the right direction, all of a sudden we’d have to move five cameramen.

Speaking of the contestants, from the trailers and interviews I’ve seen so far, all the contestants seem to be young and good looking. How come?
We did, I guess, target locations where we thought young people might be- since it’s a Fox8 program we wanted a younger player. But ultimately we were just pretty lucky that we found such amazing contestants, who played the game hard, enjoyed themselves and provided good dialogue.

Did it surprise you how competitive people got in the game?
We’d spent so long researching and creating this world called The Phone, it became really important that once the game started the contestants remained in that world. I think that was the exciting part for the contestants- they got to forget about their day to day lives for a while, were completely emerged in this world called The Phone and had a ball.

Did anyone actually turn down the offer to get involved?
We did get a couple of people, but we’d just move on. We’d either have to relax and wait for about half an hour to reset everything, because everyone around would have seen the situation, or we’d just move to a new location.

So how do you think it will be received by the Australian public?
I think, because it’s unique, there’ll be a high level of curiosity. At the same time, it’s very fast paced. You don’t have long sections where you could possibly fall asleep- you really have to charge yourself to watch it. Plus, we’ve got some fantastic contestants, that I think people will enjoy watching.

Are there any plans to make a second series?
I think everyone involved in the first one would put their hand up and agree to go through the pain again- the test to that will of course be whether the viewers like the first series.

In other words; note to the reader- watch the show…
Basically.

The Phone premieres 8.30pm, Monday 19th on Fox 8.

[The Phone]

Okay, so the prize is not yet official. Nor has the competition actually started. But since we ran out of ideas for an article we’re such gems here at Kotaku, we thought we should give you a heads up…

Thanks to the upcoming Fox8 reality-come-action game, The Phone, we will have something show-related… *cough* four Blackberries *cough*… to give away. Details will be confirmed over the coming days, but to win, all you’ll need to do is watch the series premiere next Monday at 8.30pm on Fox 8 and answer an as yet undecided question, in the comment section of an as yet unwritten article, which will officially announce the as yet unofficial competition. Confused? As am I.

Just schedule Fox8 Monday 19th 8.30pm into your IQ and stay tuned to Kotaku’s coverage of The Phone for details of the comp. And if you don’t have Foxtel; Well you’ve got 5 days to get it, haven’t you?

[The Phone]

“Would you like to win $25,000?” So begins Foxtel’s new reality adventure series The Phone. Based on the Dutch program of the same name, each episode begins with two ringing phones hidden at opposite ends of an Aussie city, where the person who answers the phone, and the $25,000 question, is thrown into an intense mobile-lead game of cat and mouse. Actor Justin Melvey- admit it, you know he’s the guy from Home and Away- stars as the fictional “millionaire”, who toys with the unsuspecting duo during their dash for the cash, giving them clues and setting them high adrenaline tasks, including a gaming gun battle. Think The Bourne Supremacy meets Grand Theft Auto, without the murder. Or the corruption. Or the… ok, just think The Bourne Supremacy.

The concept sounds interesting. And if the previews are any indication, the show looks set to be pretty fast paced and action-packed. But I’ve got to know; how long until someone replies, “no, you cheapskates. I want to win at least a mil?” Since we’ll be interviewing a few of the guys behind the reality-come-action show over the coming days, let’s see if we can get an answer…

The Phone premieres Monday 19th January, at 8.30pm on Fox8.

[The Phone]