Deal or No Deal goes on tour as C4 says farewell to the Dream Factory

Cult Channel 4 game show Deal or No Deal will embark on a tour of the UK as Channel 4 says a fond farewell to the original studio version of the show following a final run this autumn, after almost 3000 episodes and more than a decade on UK screens.  

To mark its phenomenal success, Deal or No Deal on Tour will see Noel Edmonds take the show to the audience at iconic landmarks right across the UK at the end of this year.  

Legendary host Noel Edmonds will remain on Channel 4 screens and today joined the broadcaster to announce a new series for Channel 4 daytime and two new pilots.  

Noel will host Hat Trick productions’ new 30x60’ gameshow Cheap Cheap Cheap (working title), set inside an eccentric general store filled with weird and wonderful items and even quirkier staff.  Noel and the shop staff will challenge contestants to guess the cheapest of three items presented to them in the hope that a series of successful guesses will win them a life changing sum.  

In Noel Edmonds’ Sell or Swap (working title) studio contestants can bid live on an eclectic mix of items ranging from expensive antiques to a second hand speed boat or a never used wedding dress. Every item will have an amazing story behind it and every item is up for sale or swap as Noel Edmonds leads this fast moving and hugely entertaining show. As we count down to each auction, the big question facing each seller is: will they sell or swap. The show is from Crook Productions.

Later this year Noel will also return as host in a pilot for a brand new studio-based big money game show for Channel 4 Entertainment.

Deal or No Deal launched on Channel 4 in 2005 and fast became a hit, scooping a number of awards including National Television, Broadcast, RTS, Rose D’or & TV Choice Awards.  At its height in 2006 the series attracted audiences of over three million viewers.

Channel 4's Chief Creative Officer, Jay Hunt said: "I remember watching Deal or No Deal launch and watching it grow to become a hit that captivated audiences for over a decade. A lot of the credit for that must go to Noel and his exceptional presenting. As the studio shows ends, I’m delighted he'll now be taking Deal or No Deal to the audience."

For images go to www.channel4.com/info/press

Notes to Editors:

Deal Or No Deal Facts and Stats

•   Over the past decade, Deal or No Deal has given away over £40 million to over 3,000 contestants – eight people have walked away with the £250,000 jackpot.  

•   Noel himself played the game as part of the series’ 10 year anniversary celebrations in September 2015 winning £26,000 for Children’s Hospice South West.

•  The Deal or No Deal format has travelled to 76 territories around the world with Bolivia and Azerbaijan launching their versions in the first quarter of this year. It launched in India, Algeria, Honduras and Myanmar in 2015.

•  Over 58,000 boxes have been opened over the 10 years

•  If you stacked up all the boxes one on top of each other to make towers, you could make 31 towers that are all the same height as the Empire State Building

•  The show has given away over £40 million

•  Adding up all the audiences over the 10 years, you could fill Wembley Stadium to capacity almost three times.

•  The Banker has called The Dream factory over 16,500 times.

•  Over 165,000 minutes of Deal or No Deal has been recorded for transmission. That’s the equivalent to over 115 days in total

Memorable moments

• There was once a power cut in the middle of a game and Noel carried on presenting on reserve power with a torch as there were no lights.

•  The show once experienced a flood in the middle of a game. Creepily it was a magician playing at the time

•   A box was once opened with nothing in it. It was supposed to contain the 250K and the player was a Reverend named David. He quipped it was ‘an act of god’

•   There have been taekwondo, pole dancing and falconry demonstrations

•   Noel has taken part in bird watching, aerobics, dance lessons, a ghost hunt and a yoga class on screen.

Contestants

•    Olly Murs is the only player to play twice once as a contestant and once as a celebrity. His combined winnings are £10.50.

•    Former contestant Shahid Kahn went on to find fame as music producer Naughty Boy.

•   The oldest ever contestant to play was 97 years old.

•   Two Paralympians, one Olympian, one professional strongman and two former professional boxers have played the game.

•   There have been contestants named Lorraine Kelly, Robbie Williams and James Bond.

•  A Reverend, a Hindu Priest, a Sikh Priest and Maasai Warrior have played the game.