Gotcha! Special programme celebrating 10 years of Deal or No Deal

•    Sarah Millican hosts the extraordinary charity episode on Friday 18th September, 8pm on Channel 4

•    Special airs ahead of upcoming series return, taking the much loved game show in to its 10th year

It’s a truly momentous day in the Dream Factory as Deal Or No Deal celebrates an incredible 10 years on Channel 4 with a spectacular surprise twist for host Noel Edmonds.

As the show heads towards 3000 episodes, Noel is to take to the Crazy Chair to play for a potential jackpot of £500,000 for his chosen charity.
 
Sarah Millican delivers the news to a stunned Noel using the infamous ‘Gotcha!’ as she sneaks in from the wings to reveal that she’ll be guest hosting this very, very special show.  

Noel said ‘‘To be given the chance to play the game I am so very proud to host was a great honour and one of the biggest shocks of my professional life. I hate the Banker even more now! Playing for - Children’s Hospice South West - a charity very close to my heart - was the icing on our 10th birthday cake.’’

Having previously played the game herself, Sarah knows only too well the pressure Noel is faces and said ‘I was thrilled to be asked to guest host Deal Or No Deal on such a momentous occasion. Stepping in to the shoes of a TV legend like Noel Edmonds was a bit daunting, but really I was just happy it wasn’t me playing the game again – I don't think my stress levels (and IBS) could take another go.’

The Banker commented ‘Noel was speechless when he realised he'd been pranked by the one true talent of the show, yours truly.  Where have the years gone?  I look withered, Noel looks years younger.  That tells you a lot about who does all the hard around here.  I would say it's been a pleasure, but it hasn't.’

Returning to the Dream Factory to open the 22 infamous red boxes will be some of Deal Or No Deal’s most memorable and colourful contestants from the past ten years including the first person to win 1p.  

Since it began in 2005, Deal or No Deal has become part of the fabric of British TV gameshow history, giving away over £40 million to over 2,750 contestants including celebrities Olly Murs, Joan Collins, James Corden and Louis Walsh who all played for their chosen charities. In the show’s history over 58,000 boxes have been opened and the amount of Pilgrims to enter the studio would fill Wembley Arena twice.

Will Noel finally Spank The Banker? Tune in to this epic extravaganza as Sarah Millican turns the tables on Noel and holds court in her own inimitable way.

For further information, please contact:
Michele Marsland, Endemol Shine UK Press Office, Michele.marsland@endemoluk.com, 020 8222 4322


NOTES TO EDITORS:

Deal Or No Deal Facts and Stats
 
•     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.

10TH ANNIVERSARY EX-CONTESTANT BOX OPENERS

Joey
Cheeky Essex lad Joey, 25 was the first ever contestant to have Box 23 featured in their game and won £20,900 on News Years Day 2014.

Jacky
83 year old Jacky was a big character who always wore her slippers in the studio and won £7500 back in 2011.

Dale
Inspirational player Dale, 24 won hearts and mind as well as £100,000 with his positive outlook and risk taking catchphrase of ‘Go for it!’ in an unforgettable game back in 2011.      

Harry
67 year old eccentric Harry played the game back in 2006. He became famous for reminding all the contestants that their winnings are ‘tax free!’ and went home with £20,000.

Corinne
Corrine, 79 was the first, and only person to be left £250K and 1p in live play at the end of her game in 2009. After turning down an offer of £88k, she tragically went home with 1p.

Dean
Loveable geek and budding inventor Dean came up with a formula for his 2014 game that revolved around the number Pi. He dealt at twice Pi - £6282.

Lara
27 year old Lara took part in Deal’s 2000th show back in 2012 and was part of a prank played on Noel where the biggest amounts were taken out in the first five boxes. She went on to win £6000 and a holiday to The Maldives.

Bunney
Bunney, 35 was a huge character with a penchant for song and dance. As well as introducing his own show, he chased Noel around the studio and dealt on a massive £110,000.

Pat C
Vibrant Pat, 66 had an incredible game, winning a massive £170,000 back in March 2014. Noel fondly called her ‘The Man Eater’ due to her popularity with the younger contestants.

Rod  
51 year old American Rod played the game during Love Week in 2014 and spawned the nickname ‘Hot Rod’ after revealing he’d accidentally had dinner with nine women. He took some big risks to take £20,000 home to his wife and family.

Wanda
‘Wandaful’ Wanda, originally from Poland was a huge character in the wings for always relying on her neighbour to tell her what was going on as she found it hard to follow Noel throughout. She won £16,401 which paid off the higher purchase on her taxi.

Barrie
81 year old one of a kind Barrie was a big character and would often entertain his fellow contestants by singing Al Johnson songs. He went home with £16,000 in January 2015.

Barnaby
cool dude Barnaby, 27 wanted to live at Deal or No Deal forever in 2011. Despite a tempting chance to swap, he stayed true to his box and successfully opened it to £15,000.

Roger
Roger, 71 was a larger than life character often with some outrageous remarks for Noel. Joined for the game by his beloved cat’s ashes, Roger went on to win £5000 in 2014.

Miss Orry
One of the biggest characters of Deal was 41 year old Orry. He dressed as his alter ego Miss Orry and brought a memorable Christmas show in 2007 when he missed out on £100k, taking home £1000 instead.
 
Nick
Nick, 31 became the founding member of the 1p club following his game in 2006. Half way through the game he took out all the remaining high reds, despite a last chance swap of his box, he won the penny.

Isabelle
Isabelle, 54 came the Dream Factory as a pilgrim (audience member) but ended up playing the game! Her whirlwind experience saw her win an impressive £35,000, but she could have taken home the jackpot as she had £250K in her box.

Richard (Little Rich)
Known for his riddle-like sayings before opening a box and then peering round the lid to see what he had revealed, Little Rich 46 is a Deal legend. He left with £4000 in his 2007 game.

Rosemary (Rosie)
Eccentric Rosie, 74 had a fantastic game in May 2014, ending with an all blue round and her taking home £46,000. The Banker even awarded Rosie £100 for being cheeky to Noel!

Jack
Jack, 20 won over the hearts of all with his caring nature and determination. Despite suggestions that he was The Banker’s Spy, he had one of the unluckiest games in recent history, taking home just 50p in 2015.

Vera
Big hit Vera, 72 was nicknamed ‘sausage’ during her time on the show. Unfortunately, she made a risky deal with the Banker that saw her leave The Dream Factory with nothing in 2011.