Deal or No Deal is a British game show, originally hosted by Noel Edmonds from 31 October 2005 to 23 December 2016 on Channel 4, and by Stephen Mulhern from 20 November 2023 onwards on ITV.

Based on the original Netherlands format of the game show, each episode sees a contestant choosing one of 22 boxes, each containing a cash amount. A contestant winning is determined by pure luck – cash amounts are randomly allocated to each of the boxes before each game, with contestants required to open a specific number of boxes per round of the game to eliminate the cash amounts their chosen box does not contain, in turn affecting how much is offered by the Banker. Games always end with the player opening all of the boxes, including their own, regardless of how they intend to make money.

On 19 August 2016, Channel 4 axed Deal or No Deal after eleven series,^[3] ending the game show with a special Deal or No Deal on Tour series across the United Kingdom, with the programme officially concluding after 11 years on 23 December 2016. In June 2020. Channel 4 rebroadcast some classic celebrity editions of the show during the afternoons on a Sunday. In October 2022, it was reported that ITV would be piloting a revived version of the show.^[4] After two pilot episodes were filmed at Dock10 studios on 1 December 2022,^[5] on 26 March 2023, ITV confirmed a new series with Stephen Mulhern taking over from Edmonds as host, premiering on 20 November 2023.^[2]

Gameplay

Contestants can win prize money ranging from between 1p and £100,000 (£250,000 in the Channel 4 era). The game is played using 22 sealed red boxes, each with an identifying number from 1 to 22 displayed on the front. Inside each box is a sum of money. All the boxes are sealed by an independent adjudicator, who is the only person to know the value inside each box.

At the start of each game one of the 22 contestants, each standing behind one of the red boxes, is selected to be the contestant for that episode. The contestants themselves do not know who is to take the seat until it is revealed at the beginning of the show.^[6] The contestant's box contains their potential prize. One at a time, the contestant chooses one of the 21 remaining boxes (other than their own) to be opened, eliminating the value inside it from the list of possible amounts in the contestant's box (displayed on a large screen opposite them). It is in the contestant's interest to uncover smaller amounts of money in the hope that their prize is a larger amount or that they can get a higher offer from the Banker. Boxes are opened by the remaining 21 contestants; these contestants are also regularly spoken to by Mulhern (originally Edmonds) and the contestant, and offer support and advice. These contestants return for the following episodes, along with a new contestant replacing the previous episode's contestant, so that all contestants eventually play the game (although there have been episodes where only 21 contestants played because a contestant that was supposed to play did not play due to health problems). This provides continuity between shows.

There are six rounds: in the opening round five boxes are opened, then three in each subsequent round (in series 12, two boxes for penultimate round and one for final round, increases the number of rounds to seven). After the required number of boxes have been opened in a round, the Banker offers to buy the contestant's box. The amount is dependent on the remaining box values: if several larger amounts are gone, the offer is likely to be low, as the probability is higher that the contestant's box contains a small amount of money. Occasionally, the first offer (or on very rare occasions a later offer) has been replaced by an offer to the contestant to swap their box for one of the remaining unopened boxes. The first offer can also be used by the Banker to offer non-monetary items; however, they are rarely taken.

Mulhern (originally Edmonds) tells the contestant the offer and asks the eponymous question. The contestant responds either "deal" or "no deal". Responding with "deal" means the contestant agrees to sell their box for the amount of money offered, relinquishing the prize in the box. The game is now over, though play continues to show the hypothetical outcome had the contestant not dealt. Saying "no deal" means the contestant keeps their box, and proceeds to the next round, again hoping to reveal small amounts in the remaining boxes.

After the final round, only two boxes remain. If the contestant rejects the final offer and has not dealt, their box will be opened and whatever prize it contains will be what the player has won. However, in some circumstances, the Banker can offer the opportunity for the contestant to swap their box with the other remaining unopened box and take the prize contained in the other box instead. Swaps are more likely to occur when a relatively large prize money value remains in play alongside a much lower monetary value, with the offer done by the Banker in the hope that the player unintentionally gives away a significant prize and leaves with a much smaller amount. In the original series, if the final red in play was the jackpot prize (£250,000), the swap would automatically be offered to the contestant.

Twists

In the Channel 4 series, various twists, either during themed special shows or permanently, applied to the gameplay. From 2014 to 2016, "Box 23" was added to the game. This allowed contestants to purchase it with their winnings to either double their winnings, halve it, add £10,000, lose it all, or have no change. In the same year, the "offer button" was added - meaning that if the contestant predicted their first offer within a 10% range they were able to call for an offer from the Banker at any time. Other twists like the "Banker's Gamble" (meaning they could return dealt money to win whatever is in their box) or moving on one box at a time before an offer were factors in achieving the original top prize winners.

Production

Deal or No Deal was produced by Endemol and supported by BBC Studios and Post Production, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. The original studio set for the show was converted from an old paintworks factory and its associated warehouses in Bristol.^[6] Throughout its broadcast, the programme was regularly aired daily – for its first eight series, the show was aired six days a week for a year, with breaks in production between July and August. In addition, the show also showcased a series of special celebrity editions, including a special 10th anniversary edition on 18 September 2015 in which Edmonds played the game himself.^[7] The show was put on hiatus for a two-month period from July to September 2015 and for six months in April 2016. It returned to screens in October 2016 to conclude its studio-based run, which ended on 11 December 2016. The special "Deal or No Deal on Tour" episodes aired from 12 to 23 December 2016, officially bringing Deal or No Deal to an end.^[8]

Endemol officially announced that they would bringing the franchise to the UK in August 2005 with Channel 4 as broadcaster.^[9] Channel 4 initially commissioned a run of 66 episodes, with filming beginning in October 2005.^[10] The first episode was broadcast on 31 October that year. Channel 4 then commissioned a second filming period at the end of 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Episodes of Deal or No Deal were pre-recorded. By May 2006, episodes were being filmed Monday to Friday at a rate of fifteen episodes a week. Three episodes were recorded in a day in two sessions, one edition in the afternoon using one audience, and then two episodes filmed in the evening using a different audience. The studio operated from 9:00 to 22:00. Most episodes were filmed with a Steadicam operator. ^[6] Having initially begun filming episodes just a few weeks in advance, each new period of filming then began several months in advance, and at a rate of fifteen episodes a week being filmed,^{[citation needed]} the delay between filming and broadcast varies; it can be months between the filming date and broadcast date for a particular episode.^[6] For a two-week period starting on 10 October 2011, live episodes of the show were broadcast in place of the routine pre-recorded episodes.^{[citation needed]}

In October 2013, production moved to the Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol, which had been custom built to house the show. Filming for series 10 began on 28 October 2013 at the new location.^[11]

Participants

The game show participants comprise the host (Noel Edmonds in the Channel 4 era, now Stephen Mulhern for the ITV revival), the unseen character of the Banker, the main contestant playing that day's game, the other 21 contestants, and a studio audience. Audience members, who were often referred to as "pilgrims" by Edmonds, are commonly asked for opinions on whether the contestant should "Deal or No Deal".

The contestants who appear on Deal or No Deal come from all backgrounds and age groups. When on the show, they are kept in a hotel for the duration of their time on the show and are encouraged to get to know each other during this time. The oldest contestant to have played the game was 97-year-old Chelsea Pensioner Joe Britton, who played in April 2009.^[12][13] Britton won £20,000 and gave all the money away. He died in October 2014, aged 103.^[14] Contestants who appeared and later went on to fame include 2009 X Factor runner-up Olly Murs, who won £10, politician Aaron Bell, who won £25,000, and Shahid Khan, known as Naughty Boy, who won £44,000.^[15] Additionally, Big Brother 16 contestant and YouTuber Jack McDermott and Big Brother 20 contestant Kerry Riches appeared on the show in its early series, with Riches enduring a studio power cut during her game.

The Observer interviewed Edmonds in relation to the show on 29 January 2006, quoting Edmonds as saying that his scenes with the Banker bring out his "inner actor". He revealed his passion for the show and his admiration for the individual community spirit within it, as well as his (later fulfilled) ambition that it would eventually hold a Saturday evening prime time slot.^[16] By February 2015, the show had given away more than £40,000,000 of prize money.

Top prize winners

Nine contestants have won the top prize. All winners of the top prize (as well as certain non-top prize winners) are allowed to keep their box. In the original Channel 4 series, nine contestants won the prize.

Special episodes and Double Trouble episodes

During the original Channel 4 series, many special and seasonal episodes of Deal or No Deal aired with themes including Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter,^[22][23] Summer and the "Banker's Birthday" week.^[24][25] From 2015, due to the show's inconsistent scheduling, the seasonal episode format was retired, with the show instead featuring "Double Trouble" episodes, where two related contestants played together. An addition added in this format is the "Banker's Breakup Quiz", where the pair were questioned about each other.

The Banker

The Banker is the name given to the show's quasi-fictional antagonist. Notionally, the money on the game board is the Banker's own. As such, his role is to make cash offers (usually with the first few digits being odd (e.g. £5,900)) to buy the contestant's chosen box rather than allowing them to continue and risk them winning much more. The Banker is played by "Himself", as stated in the end credits. He talks to the host via the Bakelite telephone on the contestant's desk, and also regularly talks to the player.

As Broadcast magazine noted in March 2006, the UK version of the show was the first to exploit the potential for the Banker to be an active character. Despite not being seen or heard on screen, this personification led to a high degree of public and media interest. The Guardian newspaper called the Banker "a cult character in the making and no mistake" and included him in their hotlist. Television programmes such as Harry Hill's TV Burp, GMTV, Richard & Judy and Dead Ringers all made jokes about and regularly speculated as to the Banker's real identity. As the show progressed, the Banker's fictitious back story has been built up through the character's conversations with Edmonds and the daily contestants. Edmonds describes the Banker as an older man, who is overweight and has little hair. The Banker has made several references to his six ex-wives, mother, two boxer dogs and also to his estranged son, to whom he never speaks on account of his being a charity worker.

On several occasions the Banker's voice can be heard. He has been heard laughing maniacally, blowing kisses and imitating Basil Brush. Contestants have described his voice as sounding like "a dirty phone call", "old and sexy", "rather like well-spoken deep voiced fellow contestant Lance" and "the Scream man". Edmonds often imitated the Banker's voice in a deep Churchillian tone. Short utterances or other audio from the Banker's end of the phone call can occasionally be heard by the viewer.

Some sources have speculated that the Banker is really former Coronation Street actor and host of The Mole, Glenn Hugill, who works as part of the show's production team.^[26] Edmonds denied these claims in Heat magazine in July 2006.^[27] However, in 2015, these claims were later proven to be accurate by Richard Osman, who confirmed that Hugill was the Banker.^[28]

In the revival series by ITV, the Bankers' identity is unknown again, beyond being a male individual. Mulhern revealed in pre-launch interviews that he was asked by the production team if he wanted to know who the Banker was, but declined the request, stating "he wanted to stay on the side of the player".^[29]

Revival

In October 2022, it was reported that a reboot was being developed for ITV^[30] in its 'early stages' with Stephen Mulhern in favour to host the new iteration. On 20 January 2023, ITV confirmed it was reviving the series and would air a new series consisting of 20 episodes on 20 November 2023, with Mulhern taking over from Edmonds as host. On 25 March 2023, a website was set up for the new series, and contestant applications opened. Following the pilots being filmed, it was revealed that the top prize would be reduced to £100,000. On 5 May 2023, a new logo was announced, with social media's pages being updated. The shows were filmed from 4 to 14 July 2023. On 5 July 2023, the new studio was revealed. On 6 November 2023, it was announced that the first episode of the revival would air on ITV and ITVX on 20 November 2023.^[31]

Transmissions

Celebrity Deal or No Deal

On 8 April 2012, Deal or No Deal started broadcasting celebrity editions of the show.

The celebrity contestants (in order of broadcast) were:

Reception

Critical reception

Columnist A. A. Gill described Deal or No Deal as "like putting heroin in your TV remote". Guardian television reviewer Charlie Brooker criticised the in-show implication that there are strategies that can be employed and pointed out that the game premise revolves around plain guessing while calling it "a gameshow based on the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics".^[39]

Awards and nominations

Deal or No Deal had consistently been the most watched programme in its slot for all UK channels for both daytime and primetime, particularly in the early years of its run. It was named "Daytime Programme of the Year" at the Royal Television Society Awards on 14 March 2006,^[40] and "Best Daytime Programme" in the TV Quick Awards on 5 September 2006.^[41] The UK version also won the Rose d'Or award for "Best Game Show" at the 2006 Lucerne Television Festival.^[42] Edmonds was also nominated in the "Best Entertainment Performance" category at the 2006 BAFTA Television Awards.^[43] The show was voted "Best Daytime Programme" at the 2006 National Television Awards.^[44] Edmonds was also nominated for "Best Entertainment Presenter" at the same awards.^[45]

As of 2 February 2015^[update], the show had given away more than £40,000,000 of prize money.

Sponsorship

The programme had numerous sponsors during its run, including Müller, BT, Jackpotjoy.com, More Than.com, Anadin,^[46] The Famous Grouse, All-Bran,^[47] HSL Furniture and now Tombola Bingo for the ITV run.

Product placement

In August 2012, the show had undertaken product placement by incorporating the PG Tips logo into its episodes. The logo was added digitally in post-production and appears on the contestants' coffee mugs.^[48]

Merchandising

During the original run of the series, many pieces of merchandise were sold based on the show, like books, video games, tabletop games and DVDs.

Drumond Park released board games, electronic games, card games, and handheld games while Mindscape developed video games for the Wii, Nintendo DS and PC - featuring custom voice lines from Edmonds.^[49]

A book, The Official Behind the Scenes Guide (ISBN 0-09-192006-X), was published on 26 October 2006 by Ebury. It features interviews with Edmonds, the Banker, and contestants, and has statistics for all contestants' games from season 1. Channel 4 DVD released a DVD TV game on 13 November 2006. The game had original filmed segments in the show's original studio featuring Edmonds as the host and the game has the same format as a show would. A second DVD game called "Family Challenge" was released on 19 November 2007, which featured 22 contestants from Season 2.

In 2015, A quiz mobile app titled Deal or No Deal – Noel's Quiz was released.^[50] The app was available on iOS and Android, and was shut down a year later.^[51] A quiz-based Deal or No Deal game also appears on a number of pub quiz machines. Deal or No Deal arcade machines are still sold and present in arcades in the UK.

Gambling issues

In March 2012, with the series approaching its 2,000th episode and the format now broadcast in over 50 countries, senior Channel 4 executives were to meet with the Gambling Commission, who were preparing to issue new guidance in April 2012 on the implications of the Gambling Act 2005 for broadcasters and according to The Guardian, had concerns with the show. The newspaper claimed the show could be breaking the law as it did not involve any element of skill, with such non-skill games played for profit requiring a gambling licence.^[52]