I know it differs for every individual, but do you think there would be any general consensus between contestants as to what would be a good, or at least healthy win, on Deal or No Deal?

Clearly there are so many variables that you have to approach each game individually, and make the best of your situation as the odds present themselves, but do you think most people would look for around £10k as a minimum amount they realistically wanted to come away with, at the start of the game?

For the ex-contestants on here, was there a 'standard' by which games were judged, in real monetary terms?

For everyone else, would you have a particular sum of money you would conservatively aim for? I think Jennifer (who won £120k) actually said she was aiming for at least £50k, so she was very lucky indeed.

Personally, I wouldn't have a set sum of money in mind, but look to see the odds, as my game panned out. However, at the back of my mind I suppose I would aim to leave with a five figure sum.

I've agreed with my girlfriend that if I were to get on the show I'd take anything over £10k as it would make a nice deposit on our first house together.
Obviously id have to judge it by the board but i wouldnt be out to get as much as i could. i'd get my deposit and say thank you very much noel.

£5-10k would be nice, but I wouldn't see it as massively important. The experience really would be the most important thing to me - that's what won't come again, money is just money.

If I won the £250k I'd spread the winnings between everyone I played with, especially anyone who came out with pittance, so that everyone came away with a tidy little sum. I'd also love to tell the Banker that "everyone's a winner" though that would risk me going off onto a speech about the power of friendship. Crikey.

£10k is not a bad guess. Before I went on I had a few levels I was vaguely thinking around:

less than £3k - very disappointed
£3k - £7k - a bit disappointed
£7k - £10k - reasonable
£10k - £35k - varying degrees of satisfaction
£35k - £80k - delighted
£80k or more - ecstatic

And, yes, I know £7k is a lot of money to be disappointed about - but the starting average is over £25k!

But I was more determined to play the board (and the offer) as I saw it than to worry about fixed levels (and indeed the possibility of disaster), and I was very conscious that I might well have to open my box at the end so I spent a lot of time thinking about "big" two-box decisions.

e.g. The show before my debut was Germaine's (£1 v £250k) and I was watching it with a member of the crew - before the offer came in he asked me what it would take for me to deal/no deal. I said definite No Deal at £50k and definite Deal at £80k - and when the £75k offer came in I said "well, I'd probably take that then".

But I thought about that situation again and again and the more I thought about it the higher I felt I would need the offer to be (more like £90k).

However, everything does feel different when you're sat in that chair.

I can't even begin to imagine the difference between watching it on TV and making a "if I were there decision" and actually being there and making it.

Does being there for 20-odd shows beforehand make any difference? Actually seeing events unfold right there in front of you, compared to seeing them pre-recorded, and knowing the people involved - I would imagine that tempers a person's goals somewhat?

I mean, someone could apply thinking "I want to win 250k", turn up thinking "well maybe 50k would be nice" but, by the time their game comes around and they've seen others falter and fall before them, think "10k is far more resonable"

Then actually being there at the center, all eyes (and cameras) on you. Does that sort of pressure strip away a person's masks? What do those choices and gambles say about them? Or is it all just a load of random numbers and luck?

Eh, I probably shouldn't find it as fascinating as I do!

id be happy with over 7k
over 33k id be really happy about

You are absolutely right Dary. I watched almost every show on tv before I joined the 22 and arrived in Bristol determined to go all the way. It took about 5 shows for me to change my mind!! There is a huge difference between actually watching the programme to being part of it. I know a lot of people make comments about the contestants cheering too loudly or holding hands etc but it is absolutely genuine. There is no jealousy or rivalary - everyone wants the player to do well. However, when you see a friend go home with a dismal amount or you see first hand how a game can soooo quickly go pearshaped, you soon change your mind! As each game goes by, you soon learn to lower your expectations!!!!

If I were to apply, anything over £18k or so would do nicely. That way I could have a year doing nothing but watching TV

Who needs a life when you've got the Sharpe box set

But obviously I'd play it by the board and go when I saw fit. I'm no risk taker.

To me right now at this minute, on long term sickness benefits, even the sum of a mere £250 is quite a lot of money. £1000 would be very welcome indeed. I'd like to win a bit more than this though and "spread the wealth" around a bit to my parents and sister, so any number running into five figures would be very welcome indeed. If it got into six figures, I'd be making a very sizable donation to my local hospital as that would be so much money I wouldn't know what to do with it.

As soon as I reached an offer of £10K I would probably stop - unless I had a really good board. I wouldn't be greedy or reckless.

Tricky question - and one I keep thinking about, especially with an audition coming up!

I think I pretty much share Aaron's perspective above - if I'm thinking of a "this would be absolutely amazing" amount, then £80k+ would do it. Obviously £100k+ would be fantastic (anything that let me pay the mortgage & debts off would be tremendous). If it boiled down to it, I think I'd be happy to walk off with anything over £10k - there aren't that many game shows where you can win over that amount are there?

That said, I do have it in mind to just play the game as it goes, without a pre-conceived "target" and I've been thinking more about scenarios (e.g. going into the last couple of rounds with no blues & £10k+ left, then I'd just play on). Ack, it all gets confusing

Cheers

Michael

The very best of luck with your audition Michael.

Thanks Lisa - gotta love that dancing banana

Cheers

Michael

I think april fools day they should put a jack in one of the boxes and whoever box it is they should give some money!! i know its pre recorded but maybe for next year!!

As for expectations i really dont know, as i to ( and my b/f) have an audition coming up very soon (see you there michael?) we have been in constant discussion, mainly mr spikey has been saying"would you go mad if i got on and gambled lots etc etc).
I think it obveously depends on the board but i think if won £100 on lottery or £1,000 on lottery i would be chuffed, if i won £50,000 + then i would be over the moon!! I would like to say i would be content with anything RED and would be gutted if i took anything blue!!
OOOhhh to be on...what a dream...!!!!:)

If I was really being honest I would have to say anything over £15k and I would be incredibly happy. Anything over £50k would be absolutely amazing, of course.

Whatever you do, dont do that though at the audition

Same good luck to you too, Clareybabes at your audition. You did well to be selected because they get sooooo many applications, so be positive but just be yourself

Thanks!!I am sooooo excited luckly mr spikey audition is at the same time as mine so we can support each other so i hope i wont get to nervous!! i think i will laugh too much as i find it sooo funny that we both have auditions , i have been cracking up for the last two week just laughing at the fact of the audition , to be honest even if i dont get on the show its bought a big smile to my face and after not long having a baby and the thought of going back to work in a couple of weeks its been something good to think about!!My parents have the kids so we are going to make a day and night of it!!!:)

Thats the best attitude clare Just a little warning for afterwards though - please please please don't get into the hapit of kidding yourself that "today will be the day the phone rings" because I drove myself insane with that one If you possibly can , try and forget the fact you had an audition and get on with your everyday life because thinking about it doesn't make the phone ring any faster
Mine hasn't rung at all but I'm dealing

Good luck and have a fabulous time

LOL - it looks that way!



Are you sure? I thought they might like it - ROTFL!

Cheers

Michael

I went down to Bristol having agreed with wor lass that I would play on if there was £5K on offer and even a sniff of a larger offer.

I also knew I would walk if ever got offered £10K plus.

It helped a great deal to know what I was going to do when i sat there... even when it went tits up.


Geordie Feb 1