I and a number of other people i know went to the group assesment, panel interview then medical and security check. As far as i'm aware this has always been the recruitment process or similar. I don't think the interviews were easy at all, i've been to panel interview with QF about 2 or 3 years ago and i think the one I had for fixed term was much harder.
I started the process back in July and it took about 8 weeks, maybe after that the decided to change the process and make it shorter i don't know.
Anyway does it really matter??
Tell you the truth i'm sick of the whole bloody thing.