Katherine Ryan’s ‘Silence is Golden’ Review: Would She Really Kill Your Dog for Money?

Consider this intriguing scenario: a television show offers an audience £250,000, to be divided equally among them. The only catch? They must stay completely silent—no talking, laughing, or any sound whatsoever (breaches result in fines of £5,000 or £10,000). The show then deliberately subjects them to various acts meant to make them react. What you get is “Silence is Golden,” a show that turns out to be an unexpectedly thrilling test of suppressing one’s natural reactions under extreme provocation.

Hosted by the capable Dermot O’Leary, the show features notable guests like comedians Katherine Ryan, Seann Walsh, and Fatiha El-Ghorri. O’Leary navigates the program, introducing these guests while simultaneously attempting to coax the individually mic’d and closely-watched audience into making noise—the typical cheers and whoops that are a staple of such formats.

One might wonder if this show is a derivative of Prime Video’s “Last One Laughing” where comedians try to make each other laugh under the watchful eyes of Jimmy Carr, or perhaps it’s inspired by the Japanese show “Documental” created by Hitoshi Matsumoto. Alternatively, it could simply be an original creation born from the universal truth that telling someone not to laugh only makes it harder not to. The origin may remain uncertain.

The first real test for the audience comes from Australian comic, singer, and drag artist Reuben Kaye, whose provocative performance elicits £30,000 in penalties from shocked laughter and gasps. Kaye cleverly identifies the most susceptible audience member, Will, who seems destined to laugh regardless of his efforts to restrain himself. This results in significant financial losses for the group, who silently but intensely express their frustration. O’Leary even jokes about needing security to safely escort Will home as he becomes a costly liability.

The tension escalates as some audience members respond to O’Leary’s temptations of cash and prizes, choosing personal gain over the collective pot in a truly devilish twist. Lorenzo, notable among them, repeatedly takes the bait, seemingly indifferent to the group’s dagger-like glares. This element of betrayal adds a layer of drama reminiscent of reality TV’s most notorious moments, like Nasty Nick’s antics on “Big Brother” over two decades ago.

In her segment, Katherine Ryan opts for comedy, but notably threatens a couple’s dog, testing their resolve to remain silent. They do, likely confident that no harm would come to their pet on television. Yet, one can’t help but feel that if circumstances were different—without cameras, or if it were a matter of Ryan’s own money at stake—the outcome might be less certain for the unfortunate pet.

The climax of the show brings the strongest and weakest audience members (Deborah and Will, predictably) into the spotlight, with Will chosen for the final challenge. He faces a barrage of jokes and taunts from earlier acts, with the remaining prize money hanging in the balance. No spoilers on the outcome, but it’s clear Lorenzo should watch his back.

While most of the show is in good fun, the segment with a naked elderly lady aiming to shock the audience might not be to everyone’s taste. Aside from that, the program promises mostly harmless entertainment. And yes, despite the on-screen tensions, it’s safe to assume Lorenzo will be just fine.

• Catch “Silence is Golden” on U&Dave.