can anyone tell me if the contestants are prompted to run and kiss the the others and walk around the stage?? and are they told how to act?? sooo annoying

I'm not sure when it started but it's a DOND tradition at the end of the game. If I'd met someone and got to know them for a week of two, I'd be happy if they had a big win or would want to console them if their game went wron.g

This is so not true but before we went on the show we all admitted to thinking it!

Being part of deal is such a unique time you get to know people very quckly and intimately in the space of a few days/weeks so you really bond.

You hear about people's stories, troubles, what they want to do with the money and really want everyone to do well, when they play it is very emotional, surprisingly so i may add.

You really care about everyone and, i can't speak for other groups but ours, currently on TV really bonded and we became very close, and hopefully that comes across on TV.

xx

If I'm lucky enough to ever get on the show, I hope I don't recreate my 'at home' emotions..... 'cos on many occassions I've had a few tears in my eyes!!!!!

I would say most of it is spontaneous (I guess there might be one or two people that someone might feel awkward kissing IYKWIM but that's just human nature)

I always thought the "You're such a lovely person" bit was a bit cheesy but I can assure you that all those emotions are real. As Melliemel says, the contestants spend so much time together that very strong bonds are formed in a short time. I spent 24 hours on Planet DOND in October and I had to force myself to get in the car and go home!!

I agree 100% with Mel and Wickedstepmother.

Before being part of the show, I was the biggest cynic of all the bonds that people seemed to have with eachother. Before I went onto the show, I expected to go on the show, play a few games and go home with some cash.

However.....


As Mel says. you are with each other al day everyday and go out drinking together, eat together and you really do get to know eachother at a million miles an hour. I even took my media player with me to the hotel so I could watch some films if I weren't bothered about going out...... we were out every night and every night was a great laugh! The emotion is totally real and this is coming from the very biggest cynic of all. I've met loads of great people on the show, people that I have stayed in touch with and that are now coming to my wedding!!! I would have never thought in a million years that I would stay in touch with more than 1 or 2 people from the show, but the deal or no deal bubble is real and I can assure you that all the emotion is genuine.

Well said dan, i too, as i've already said, thought when i sat at home watching it, "playing up to the camera' etc but i love every single one of the guys i met whilst at DOND. I miss them all and have made life long friendships, something which i never thought would happen, yes i knew i'd have a great time but never thought it'd be like this, i really did have "the time of my life"

Great insight there, interesting comments. During my experiences as a pilgrim no emotions looked staged, the bond between the contestants seems just the same outside the studio and when the cameras obviously weren't rolling.

No Derek Acorahs on DOND hopefully!

I'm glad the contestant application deadline has been extended, I never got round to finishing mine! Would love the exerience.

Hello

Aby here the newbie in the east wing. I totaly agree with my friend Mel & Dan that the feelings and gestures that you see for each other are real and from the heart. It is the best experiance you could ever wish for and the friends that you make, you will hopefuly keep for the rest of your life. I hope that everyone is enjoying the show Aby x

Aby...... Lovely to see you on here!!!! Hope your ok, great newbie today, can't wait to see you

(no acting required!!)

xx

Hello there!
I've just spent 2 days watching filming as my partner has joined the line-up. After spending time with all the contestants at the studio, in the hotel and at the pub i now see DOND in a different way. Although i've always enjoyed it i did think some things were maybe a bit staged and OTT but i can really see now how people become attached, they are with each other 24-7 and it is like a little bubble-world completely unique to itself.
I always thought that each contestant knew when they were going to play but they don't, it's completely random and during my time there the production team suddenly flashed the up the name of a player who had only filmed 16 shows yet there was a player there who had filmed 30+, the group of players were shocked by this and it creates nervous tension and keeps everyone on their toes.
Seeing the filming and being part of it (although i was only a "friends and family" of a player) it is a very addictive environment and i now wish i'd applied myself. You are really looked after and each little contribution anyone gives is appreciated.

That's interesting. I always thought they had an idea when it was going to be them. It always amuses me when a player looks really shocked when there name's called and they've been there for ages.

Firstly 'Welcome'!

Secondly thanks for this comment, I am one of the random selection unbelievers so it's good to hear your points ... there's a discussion on this topic in this thread >> http://www.dond.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17032&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=40

rybev, I agree with everything there 100%. It's really weird to explain, but even cynical me and My Dad, who spent a night down there, could instantly see the special atmosphere that the show creates. Glad you enjoyed your stay and I hope your partner does well!!!


As for the selection of contestants, it is definitely a surprise, although you start to expect it a little more as you go beyond 20 shows. It's definitely not random though. If it was, then there would have been about 45 players having just one show and probably a player doing over 100. It would be statistically improbable that after 1000 shows, everyone goes home between 16-30 shows (apart from a few extreme cases). It's true that some people last longer than others. This may be due to them being a character and a ratings winner or it could be that they like to fill certain days with certain types of people. They tend to put the older people on Sundays and the livelier, popular players on fridays, i.e the games people have been waiting for all week.

Also, when I was there, both Walter and Ade had very special clothing, Walter had his blackwatch outfit and Ade had his ceremonial dress. They wore those loads of times, both wore them on there 25th-ish shows and everyone then expects it to be that person and the producers will throw a curveball in their and put someone else on. Both players went 30+, both players wearing their special clothes when it was finally them.

None of the producers claimed that it was random when we were down there and I don't think Noel has said it was random either, if he did, He's a liar, ha ha ha. The producers even tell you that you will be there between two and three weeks, if it was random, they couldn't guarantee that.

Wow!

Good insight from you lot, makes me want to hope that I get on even more now

I would say that the selection process is not entirely random.

Yes, players are "in the zone" after 16 or so games but I think they take personal circumstance into consideration to a certain degree. I have heard of someone having their game on a certain day because they had a foreign business trip planned and it's a bit spooky that Ty was chosen for her game on a Monday when she had her driving test (in Kent) booked for the Wednesday.

But I'm sure no-one knows for certain until their name is called.

Hello again,
well when i say random i meant that its not in an exact strict order of a players arrival, i accept there is some method to some players being there longer like you say, for example if they've become "characters".
The wardrobe choose each players clothes for the show (from players own collection) and i got the impression when players were given a favourite or very smart outfit they "knew" it was their turn...or at least had a good idea it would be.

Yeah, there are definitely some indications when it is your time, but There were many times when we were wrong. It never stopped us trying to guess though, ha ha ha. They definitely kept us on our toes. Walter was on for 31 shows and for the week before we were saying, "it's walter now" but he kept hanging around, ha ha ha. Has your partner been on yet then rybev?

Hi Dan,

My partner has not been on yet, not sure if i can say exactly when he'll be on...there's so many funny little rules of what you can or can't say (or it seems that way). It won't be for a good couple of months yet. He's on a 2 week break now then back to filming on 2nd March. He's enjoyed his first week but is glad of the break i think as it's all been very hectic and tiring.

That is a fair observation about the wardrobe dept. I was in the audience the day before Pip's show was recorded and there was a lot of speculation during the warm-up about whether or not he would picked that day. One of the things the warm-up man said was "Is he wearing his best shirt?"

Having said that, I knew shortly after the recording what outfit Ty was wearing for her show (she sent me the official photo with Noel etc) but I was surprised to see while watching her games on TV that she also wore it for one of her days on the wings ... so you never can tell