Hello there. I’m Jack from the USA! Lifelong fan of the UK Deal and always found it superior to our deeply strange version. It’s crazy how a game show from a country I don’t live in has been something I’ve been attached to for over half of my life now.

I’m autistic and game shows are my special interest. Currently attending Uni for a degree in broadcast hoping to be a game show host and producer one day. I’ve been lucky enough to host several live events in my town and am working on a low budget quiz show for my university.

I’ve lurked here for quite a few years and especially since the modern version started.
You all seem to be the top Deal UK experts so I do have 2 questions I figured I’d ask to get started

What was the first game to have a “twist” (ie, an extra offer, raising or lowering money, banker’s gamble, anything outside of the ordinary)?

I see references to a discord server on many posts here. Is there a link to that?

Welcome Jack! That's a magnificent title for an Introduce Yourself thread I'm here, also queer, but thankfully not in any joint pain - sorry to hear that you are! Also autistic, glad to have another member of this prestigious club of ours

As for unusual things happening in the UK show...I would argue that it goes back all the way to the very beginning! In show 5, which aired on November 4, 2005, Haleem's game was quite unusual, in that the banker didn't make a final offer! It was in proveout as Haleem had already made a great deal, but he'd dealt at the fourth offer, and the fifth, proveout offer was made as normal...but for whatever reason, no final amount

There was also Dr Madie Bolourchi, who for a few years was known only as 'Player 14' because he was so embarrassed at turning down an incredibly generous offer and then leaving with a fraction of it, that he demanded to stay anonymous! He was a smashing bloke, which is why I've made sure to put his name in bold and underlined it for good measure.

But the first one that would count as a twist, I think, might have to be Gabrielle (April 15, 2006) - a bad day for ocean liners, but a good day for the charity Gabrielle was playing her game in aid of (also the first 'normal'/non-celebrity contestant to be playing with the intention of donating their winnings to charity). She only won £1,000, but the Banker phoned back and doubled it, so the charity got £2,000.

Welcome to the forum!

Here are some other firsts and when they happened (I used MisterAl's spreadsheet to help!):

03/01/2006, Irene - first swap offered (and accepted) - though I have a feeling one had been offered before this and not accepted?
06/06/2006, Suzanne - first non-monetary offer (in the form of a swap at offer 1)
04/12/2006, Ned - first additional offers (these were post-deal and during the final round)
25/12/2006, Rachel - first time gifts were offered in addition to an offer
25/12/2006, Wrighty - first time a value on the board was changed (£500,000 box replaced the £15,000 box)
11/09/2007, Brenda - first non-monetary offer that wasn't a swap (3 nights for two in New York)
09/10/2007, Phyllis - first Banker's Gamble (though not described as that until some time later)
17/12/2007, Louise - first time the Banker was allowed to look in unopened box(es)
20/03/2008, Jo Jo - first time the final outcome would be determined by an extra choice (in this case, by picking an Easter egg)

Yes, MisterAl would be incorrect re the first swap offered - that was Oli, in the sixth show!

Ah yes, I thought it was earlier than Irene. MisterAl's sheet must only show when swaps were accepted so Oli's unaccepted one didn't show up.

Ah, that makes sense!
I think, looking back, Oli's attitude to the whole idea was fascinating: 'Nope, me and my box have been through a lot together, I'd never swap!' It was perceived as the Banker trying to play dirty mind tricks on the player...which, I suppose, given how new the show was to our part of the world, also makes sense!

Actually, here's another - was Jeff (17 December 2005) the first player to speak to the Banker on the phone?

I think it was Andy Kelly a couple of weeks before, but it was a very brief exchange.

Good to know! Thanks for answering. While I have your attention, one more thing

In the original series, when did Noel start announcing the day’s player at the top of the show as opposed to the names shuffling on the board?

Oh yeah! Of course. I just couldn't be bothered to rewatch all the early episodes again to make sure

Just checked back and have confirmed my suspicions that it was the start of 2014 (also when Box 23 was introduced).


Must admit I saw a bit of his game recently which jogged my memory about him talking to the banker.