Show 38



Claudia's game today.

Noel talks about Keith's sensible deal yesterday and says that it worked out in the end...he talks about how £100 keeps coming to the table, and then says he was looking at the wins so far, and the biggest wins of £37,000, £50,000, £80,000 and £91,000 have all been won by men, and the biggest win by a female player so far has been £26,000! He wonders whether we'll have a lady trying to make that top win higher playing today, or a man defending his title...we look at the board....



Claudia has Box 7 today. Claudia Strickland is a 42-year old advertising consultant from London....Noel says he's been waiting for this game for a while. Claudia says so has she! Noel and Claudia talk about her family - her husband Richard is in the audience today - and how Claudia would love the money to be able to work less to see her 2 children more....Noel reminds us all of Claudia's attitude to the game that she's said on the wings...Claudia says she's been determined never to deal whilst the £250,000 is in play...Noel says that he loves is when a ruthless player comes out! Claudia says she's had a lot of big numbers, and she hopes she has another one today...

Noel says he can't wait to get into this, and Claudia confirms she chose lucky box 7 at random

Here we go...

Claudia gets up and starts walking around...the 'beautiful Ashleyne' is first...Noel says he's learnt that Scarlett isn't the only model on the wings, and Ashleyne also does some modelling...he says what a glamorous set of contestants we have at the moment....and then there's Nigel...

8 - £50,000 Ashleyne

Claudia laughs as the audience groan...

1 - £100 Nigel

Claudia screams and gives him a kiss...thank god the £100 is out of the way after the appearences it's made this week, Noel says....

21 - 10p Sebastian

13 - £20,000 Nikki

11 - £1 Patrick S

Banker time



So we had a couple of hits, but the amount that is clearly going to be a big factor in this game remains, Noel says...Claudia says it would have been awful if she'd hit the £250,000 in the first round after all that...the banker rings and says this is an interesting one...he says half of him is saying that she won't take anything at this stage, so he shouldn't offer her anything, and the other half really wants to test her...Noel says this is exceptional as the highest opening offer before today was £4,900!

Banker offers

£10,000

That really is incredible, Noel says, and he tells Claudia he doubts we'll see £10k as an opening offer again! Claudia says it's phenomenal, but she has to go on...

Claudia says

NO DEAL

Next round...

2 - £5,000 Greg

Claudia says it's fine...

4 - £5 Nea

Noel says that we really don't want to find the £250,000 anytime soon....he thinks Claudia is going to be a big winner today, he calls a break...

Welcome back
Last box before the next offer...

9 - £750 Brenda

Banker time



Noel says this is a very strong board...Claudia agrees and Noel says she's being much quieter than he thought she'd be...the banker rings and thinks Claudia's nervous and now knows she can't deal with the £250,000 there without embarrassing herself! He says this offer may seem a big low, but it's only because the last offer was incredibly generous...

Banker offers

£13,500

Claudia thanks the banker...she looks at the board for a second and says she's ready...

Claudia says

NO DEAL

Next round...

Claudia chooses Barry and Box 18....Noel says that Barry doesn't have Box 18, Brian does...he says it's Claudia's game so we'll have whatever she wants...he calls Barry over to Brian's spot and says says sorry Brian, Claudia wants Barry to open this one...

18 - £100,000 Barry opening for Brian

Aaargh says Noel and the audience groan...Claudia looks rattled but says it's not the biggy....

10 - £10,000 Irene

15 - 50p Benjamin

Banker time



It's not looking as strong, but it's a good board, Noel says...the banker rings and says he wants to speak to Claudia! Noel says this is very unusual...he gives Claudia the phone and Claudia says 'all right?' to him! She says his voice is scaring him! Claudia then puts down the phone and says that the banker told her no one will think she's an idiot if she deals with the £250,000, because he says he can tell that's what she wants to do...she also told him the offer...

Banker offers

£15,000

Slowly moving up, Noel says...Claudia laughs and says after all this, does he expect her to deal at this point? She looks at her husband who says that she knows what she wants and he won't say anything to stop that...

Claudia says

NO DEAL

Fourth round...£3k downwards, Noel says...

5 - £15,000 Laurence

Claudia says okay...

3 - £250,000 Scarlett

Silence...Claudia just laughs and says 'ah well, it wasn't to be'...Noel says this has changed the whole dynamic of the game, he calls a break...

Welcome back to Claudia's game

Now the £250,000 is gone, we need to get to the next box with £75k and £35k still in play, Noel says....Claudia asks the newbie if he thinks he has a blue, and Ally says he does....

20 - £250 Newbie Ally

Banker time



Not the round we wanted, Noel says...he says the banker will be loving this...the banker says it's not 100% what he wanted...he says he really wanted to convince Claudia to deal, and then for her to have the £250,000 in her box, but he supposes it being gone is very good too...he says he feels like he's in a position of power now!

Banker offers

£1,000

Claudia laughs and the audience boo the offer! She asks for the question

Claudia says

NO DEAL

Please have an all-blue round and change the feeling of this board, Noel says!

22 - £3,000 Patrick O

Fine, Claudia says...

17 - £10 Millie

Find the 1p, Noel says!

12 - £50 Kay

Banker time



Noel says Claudia's created a very interesting board at 5-box...he says the banker knows that she won't go on regardless now so it's the first time we'll see how he copes, as the £1,000 was just an insult...the banker rings and says that Claudia will fall for his old favourite....

Banker offers

£14,999

Claudia shakes her head, but Noel says it's a good offer...Claudia says that £15,000 just isn't enough...she says she wants that perfect round and she wants to be left with £35k and £75k...she says it's going to happen....

Claudia says

NO DEAL

You've been true to your word, and incredibly brave, Noel says..he tells Claudia that she's made decisions so quickly, and hopes they've been the right ones....

16 - 1p Peter

Massive cheers...Claudia gives him a kiss and celebrates

19 - £35,000 Pamela

Mixed reactions...Noel says we cannot hit the £75,000 now....

14 - £75,000 May

Silence....Noel says he's so sorry, and Claudia says it's fine...she took the gamble and part of taking the gamble was being aware of what could happen.

Banker time with £500 and £1,000 remaining.



Noel says Claudia is taking this very well...the banker rings and says this is possibly his favourite victory so far...£14,999 worked again!

Banker offers

£550

Claudia quickly says

NO DEAL

Claudia says she wants to swap as she had £1,000...the banker rings and says it's his pleasure to refuse to offer the swap! Claudia smiles and Noel says it's time to find out what she's won...he says he hopes there's a consolation of £1,000

Noel opens Box 7 and reveals £1,000

Barry opens Box 8 and reveals the £500

Noel says that currently, the women don't seem to have any luck...Claudia says she's sure a lady will go out there and win the £250,000 soon enough! Noel tells us to watch tomorrow to see if we can have a pick-me-up after Claudia's crash today!

138 Claudia - £1,000 - £1,000 - £15,000 - £550

Player Show Count for 3/5/08

Nigel - 22 shows (replaced Gus)
Brenda - 21 shows (replaced Caroline)
Benjamin - 20 shows (replaced Mike)
Pamela - 19 shows (replaced Maud)
Nea - 18 shows (replaced Az)
Patrick S - 17 shows (replaced Mary-Louise)
Greg - 16 shows (replaced Jonny)
Ashleyne - 15 shows (replaced Lucy)
Peter - 14 shows (replaced Soloman)
Brian - 13 shows (replaced Mandy)
Scarlett - 12 shows (replaced Robbie)
Irene - 11 shows (replaced Liz)
Laurence - 10 shows (replaced Dylan)
Nikki - 9 shows (replaced Gwen)
Patrick O - 8 shows (replaced Liam)
Sebastian - 7 shows (replaced Harrison)
May - 6 shows (replaced Alice)
Barry - 5 shows (replaced Lola)
Millie - 4 shows (replaced Roy)
Kay - 3 shows (replaced Emily)
Ally - 2 shows (replaced Keith)
Whoever replaces Claudia - 1 show