I'm going to see how many shows (in-a-row) there are going to be, when the contestant that is selected holds their hands to their mouth.

I would guess at least 20.

LOL so true! I remember Anna not doing it, she just smiled and waited for the embraces.....obviously not quite as good an actor as everyone else!

Some of them make it look quite realistic I think, but some don't do a very good job of looking surprised. The hands over the mouth seems to be the preferred reaction, though!

On that note, I've always wondered, how far in advance do you think the contestants are told it's going to be their show? That morning? The day before?

I didn't think they were actually told, I just thought they were given 'clues' like when they choose clothes that match with Noel's and their make-up is done perfect etc

they're not told at all! they really aren't...when they are selected, filming stops, and the player's make up is touched up and they have composure time etc, before filming the show. i'm sure a contestant can back me up on this

yea i know what happens when they select the player

i went to watch kirsty's game!

noel said before we started filming that they do actually know who's going to be selected. i think the player's do as well, some of their reactions e.g anna's give it away

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2!! lol! very first episode!

no, i know the producers know who's going to play, they choose when the players play, to get a good mix and selection of players. the players don't though. for someone like anna, it was her 27th show...hardly a surprise she was picked to play!!

The contestant finds out at the point where the name comes up on the board. The show starts exactly as on screen, name comes up and reaction is recorded. Filming stops whilst player is miked up, calms down etc. This takes place just at the back of the set almost behind the board and off camera. Player returns to place and filming starts again, with contestant picking up box and coming to the seat.

The player genuinely doesn't know until that moment. Nothing is fixed and the hands to face movement is spontaneous. It's a common involuntary response although I can see why some may believe it's contrived. It really isn't though.

There's Pat G, Clare and Donna

And Mike...he was so camp.

Yea...I know all this happens! Like I said I was there for Kirsty's game

I must've misinterpreted what Noel said then, he said, and I quote

"Hmm, so all these players and we don't know who it's going to be...well, we do..." Just before the cameras started recording.

Cheers for clearing this up

LMFAO! That made me laugh...dunno why just did, I suppose he was really wasn't he

When we went to watch it being filmed, Noel said "and now to see who will be chosen today at random" in the most sarcastic voice ever.

yeah it's definitely not at random, cos anything could happen, but i think they don't tell the contestants because of the surprise element. anyway, we've already seen where people have said their family's just left before their game etc.

plus, noel freq. says it's a surprise for them, and if it wasn't, that would be lying, and i'm pretty sure you can't do that on tv.

Whose show did you go and watch?

Also, anyone know where we're upto now in terms of filming to transmission ratio?

which show did you see?