They don't know each other before they come on the show but as they are picked at random and can be there for quite some time before they get a chance to play, they get to know each other quite well. t also helps that they get put up in the same hotel together. The only player who has not been picked at random was Lucy who endured 50 shows before they took pity on her and let her play.
The lady on our jewellry counter at work is really excited as her daughter has passed all the auditions for the show and is going down for 5 days of filming this week. they put her up in a hotel and everything!