The National Lottery: Break The Safe

They didn't make a big deal about it simply because things like this happen all the time (although granted not usually on the scale of this). The production company can play run-throughs to test the format all they like and make adjustments but ultimately every game is different and some very last minute changes to format will occur when the game is played with a properly cast group of contestants in a studio environment as opposed to company staff in an office run-through or a one off unbroadcast pilot.

I know of one very expensive pilot in which an eventuality occurred that the development team had simply never considered before and they had to quickly figure out what exactly the rules should have been in that situation in order to continue the game. It all fell to pot after that.

The difference there is that there was a very real chance that contestants had cheated in order to win money and if that had gotten out, even with newly filmed episodes, then needless to say the press would have had a field day. Also it would have been important for the BBC to point out that it was 12 Yard's mistake and not theirs.

I don't really understand why the women are complaining - except for attention-seeking. They were given a second chance to win, with the rules at the time of each recording pointed out to them. Going by what Gary says, pairs at the later recordings played under the new rules and only had one chance.

If anything, they should be embarrassed that out of four attempts between them, only one of them could accurately judge a time period of between 30-34 seconds once. The bigger "fix" would be if the BBC used the results of the first game under the new rules and let them win, having to feign surprise etc.

Yeah during the first recording, a Scottish couple had a potential prize pot of £35,000, but only one of them hit the button during the 30-32 seconds, therefore only winning £17,500....

Why do you go to the bother of recording it? You realise that there are other ways of getting the numbers I asssume........................

Unlike quotes in newspapers which never sound staged:


Erm.

I notice iPlayer says this was episode 3. Did 1 and 2 go out with the old rules, or were they also redone? Or were they recorded out of order?

Yes, many a Wikipedia article or ukgameshow.com page will mention something interesting like this that has happened during the production of programmes. Usually because a contest, audience member, crew member or even presenter has mentioned them. It just seems odd that in this case, no one said anything until now. The two contestants also claim they were told not to tell anyone.

The press aren't having a field day with this one then? It wasn't important for the BBC to point out that it was Thames' mistake and not theirs?

Every episode that has been broadcast so far has had the revised rules. It sounds like at least the first and third episodes were redone.

Nick said 8 episodes were done, but the order wasn't decided so the very first recording could in fact be the last episode to be broadcast, as two closing shots were done.

National Lottery: Break the Safe" has been accused as being 'fixed'. It really does make you think. If the gameshow is 'fixed', then what about the National Lottery machines in general? They do sometimes show the characteristics of being 'fixed'.

My question to the BBC is: WHAT'S THE POINT?

Oh stop it, the gameshow and the lottery are totally different productions...

This is the BBC's fault just as much as it is Thames'. Their commissioner has a responsibility to ensure that the format is solid before it is commissioned. During the development process they will go to numerous 'office pilots' and small scale run-throughs of how the programme works. They have to know the programme inside out and pick up on any flaws there might be before they commit to giving it cash to be made, even before a much less risky unbroadcast pilot.

The national lottery isn't drawn by the BBC, they merely air it. The outcome of the show wasn't fixed either.

What do you mean by "show the characteristics of being 'fixed'" anyway?

Didn't you know? He's a world expert in the laws of spherical spatial motion, gravity, friction and probability. He's watched every lottery draw since 1994 and has concluded that the draws are fixed. How can we prove this? Well, the fact that 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, BB7 haven't come up in the 1840 draws thus far.