Perth contestant Adrian Alaberg lifts lid on what it was REALLY like competing on Squid Game: The Challenge

A WA TikTok creator, who took part in Netflix’ reality series Squid Game: The Challenge has revealed what it was REALLY like participating in the controversial new TV show.

The series, a spin-off of the popular Korean drama, sees 456 contestants compete for $US4.56 million in prize money, by taking part in the basic schoolyard games featured in the original Squid Game.

Adrian Alaberg, known as ‘Player 270’ on the show, told the Allan & Carly for Breakfast radio show he was “super keen” to take part in the TV concept, which has rocketed to the top of Netflix’ streaming charts worldwide.

“Well, it is very much like the real Squid Game — which I really liked!” he said.

“I was just super keen, it just looked like a big, fun thing to do. Granted — we don’t actually die!”

The series has gained headlines recently after two contestants threatened legal action over alleged injuries they say they suffered while filming, including hypothermia.

Alaberg weighed in: “Yeah look, to start off with… at least we didn’t die!” he told the radio presenters.

“That’s pretty good!

“So, we’re already doing better than the actual show…

“Honestly, it was way harder than I expected it to be.

“The thing that everyone is complaining about is Red Light, Green Light — that first game.”

In the show, the game — which famously features a large robotic doll — only goes for a short amount of time. But Alaberg said in reality, contestants were filming in “a big aircraft hangar somewhere in the UK” in peak winter.

While they were told they would only have to hold their pose “for two minutes” the time ended up being way longer.

“We start moving, we stop and hold for 10 minutes while they get all the shots, then the doll starts singing again… we run, we run, we pause,” he explained.

“Every single time we held, the time went up by five minutes, until, I swear, by the end we were holding it for 35 to 40 minutes.

“This scene, for the last people that crossed the line, took eight hours to film!

“It was insane — by the second hold I couldn’t feel my feet anymore.”

Alaberg said he knew the competition would be tough.

“You’re not just going to be given $4.5 million dollars, so, you are free to go at any point — but these people chose not to,” he said.

“I’d rather the money and the fame than my health, which is what a lot of these people thought.”

Squid Game: The Challenge has been a smash hit with viewers, with 20.1 million views in its first five days of availability on the streamer.

The popularity has led fans to revisit the original series, pushing the drama back into the Top Ten, with 1.6 million views.

You can listen to the audio from Allan & Carly’s breakfast show on here.