Deal or No Deal

Just saw Deal or No Deal for the first time- not all that impressed. It really drags on at 45 minutes and desperately needs a quiz element to determine who is picked to play- this should be the first 15 minutes followed by the box game for the final 30 minutes.

Impressed that they gave away £33k (+£10k to a viewer) on an early evening gameshow, but you've basically spent 45 minutes watching 22 boxes being opened. There's only so much tension you can build by repeating the same basic probability facts.

In summary- good idea poorly executed...should be 30 minutes only if just a box game, or 45 minutes with a quiz element. A quiz would have undoubtedly stopped nutters like today's player from winning anything.

I did that with ease yesterday, but when no one got it convinced myself I'd made some stupid mistake!

Todays Deal or No Deal was the best so far - brilliantly addictive!

As I understand it, everyone will get the chance to play from the present line up of people on Deal or no deal. Not sure how long this series will run for.

I will be very surprised if anyone actually walks away with 250K.

Although Channel 4/Countdown may be 23 years old, it's hardly a milestone.

I'd imagine the next anniversary it celebrates will be 25.

I suspect the next Countdown celebration will be their 4,000th episode as they should hit that mark in a couple of months.

Presumably after every programme finishes they add a person from the audience to replace the one who's just been picked as a contestant

Something like that. Potential contestants were asked if they could get a month off of work.

Obviously it usually goes quiet every year now, I don't know if they mentioned it on Countdown today (didn't see it), but it doesn't feel as right, that the first man on Channel 4 isn't around but the first programme still is.

AIUI the next anniversary for Countdown would be 4000 episodes, it hit 3000 in 2001 and 2000 in 1997, but with it being off air for 4 months has pushed it back. It'll be interesting to see if Channel 4 do anything to celebrate it.

I never was a great fan of Countdown but feel that Deal or No Deal is much better.

Really!?

Blimey, imagine spending a month in a warehouse with Noel Edmonds!

Mmm. Three recordings a day up until the end of November. Weekends off, Endemol to cover expenses.

It is unclear whether new contestants go to the back of the line and do their four weeks worth of recordings before getting their go or could be selected at any time.

Everyone is guaranteed a crack at the cash though. But imagine waiting a month and going home with 10p!

The other European versions also use this "reality" aspect, but I don't know if they're live or recorded in advance or what.

Judging from comments I've read on the show, they'd do well to emphasize the "everyone gets a go" aspect a bit more.

In the Australian version (which is on every weekday afternoon/early evening) since the start of this year only 1 person has walked away with the top prize. 2 people have walked away with the smallest prize.