[3] The series was promoted with a large publicity campaign, which included advertisements on websites and a concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

[9] 11 participants, who were not initially informed of their task, must live on a purpose-made rubbish dump adjacent to a working landfill site for 21 days after being left equipped only with a sleeping bag, drinking can and one roll of lavatory paper each.

[10] Rob Holdway, director of environmental consultancy Giraffe Innovation, presented the programme and set the contestants regular challenges.

[10] One participant, Darren Lumsden, voluntarily left the programme after just three days, claiming that the experience had taught him nothing,[citation needed] though years later he would turn up on another reality TV show called The Chop (in October 2020).

[4] Television adverts, using the 1998 single "Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp" by Mercury Rev, featured people performing everyday tasks such as bathing whilst on the landfill.

[4] Eight members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra performed Land of Hope and Glory on the landfill site that the programme was filmed, using instruments that had been made out of waste.

[35][36] Channel 4 controller Julian Bellamy commented on the programme's failure during Edinburgh Television Festival 2008, saying that it "didn't have the human narrative you need" and that it was "a little bit too like other reality shows".

[37] An argument started in the camp between Jermaine and Selena on Day 15, which resulted in some participants stating that they felt intimidated by his actions.