...contestants being supportive and being attention-seeking.

Mavis for instance is always doing that very, very ostentatious fingers-crossed thing, and it is in danger of being less "I am supporting you" and more "Look at me! I'm such a nice person! ME!"

What say you?

They just want to be part of the game and they want the player to do well, but I see your point. Some people just go OTP, but you can't blame most!

I think that only by being on the show could you judge if it's real or not.... but I personally think that they all get so wrapped up in the game, they genuinely do whatever to will the contestant on!

I can assure you, from my experience, that every gesture you see made by contestants on the wings in support for the player is 100% genuine.

I was one of those players that kept my fingers crossed for the player, and this was in support and hope not for attention seeking. This is true of every player i was privileged to be on the show with, whatever gesture they made.

I can also say that those gestures make all the difference to the player when they are under the pressure of their game. During my game, I looked up to see Jimmy smiling at me. Gestures like that are invaluable, and really helped me along. I am sure my fellow contestants will also agree whole heartedly.

A lot of us have said that before we went on the show that we wondered if the friendship and support was false or contrived, and I know Dan never thought he would get so emotionally involved. But once you get into the DOND bubble, the pillar of support is immense.

I wouldn't call it attention seeking..

The people on the wings appear so close that I always think the gestures are genuine. And I'm sure that's the case.

I don't know too much about Mavis and haven't seen anything, but during my time on the wings, almost every single person realized that they were a supporting cast to the Banker, Noel and the player. Only Nagib stood out to be someone to want to put on a show and someone who seeked attention (at the most inappropriate of times), but he was edited out massively, so I guess few people will ever know this was the case. Other than that 1 anomily, all the players were completely genuine during my time there.

Mavis never came across as an attention seeker to me, just a bit whacky, ha ha ha. All the support that I saw was totally 100% genuine, and never altered whether it was before the cameras roled, after the show finished, in the pub and after the players left. All the support during my time was genuine. I gave it and I felt it.

I dont think crossing your fingers obstinately is attention seaking!

JUmping up and down and whoooping (like Aby and friends) is.

I am sure you get caught up in the game an all that, I really liked Aby but that OTT behaviour was taking the focus off the player and did start to wear thing towards the end.

It may be annoying to you, I can understand that completely, but I know for a fact that they helped my game with there enthusiasm so to say they are taking the focus off the player is a bit harsh. they help the player out more than you may think. They were themselves, simple as they are very bubbly happy people and they weren't acting like that for anyone else, it's just how they are, both before, after and during the shows.

If you notice, most of the jumping and shouting is after Noel asked for them to do so. When you get asked to do something on the show, you just do it. If you don't you look even worse.

Dan

I quite agree - I love bubbly, happy people (in fact I was told off on here for saying David H2005 was not smiley/sparkly enough) but poor Mavis was accused of being attention seeking just for crossing her fingers too tightly (bless!!) I didnt even notice myself until it was pointed out.

So no offence meant to Aby & Co but they DID attract more attention to themselves than little Mavis quietly crossing her fingers.

Milly

If you were comparing it to Mavis, then I guess they definitely attract more attention, but you described it as attention seeking, which meant I had to defend them due to the fact they are usually asked to be this way.

I understand now that you were comparing it to finger crossing now and it makes sense.

I don't get the impression that the contestants are attention seeking on the wings,
with one exception and that's when they want to convince the banker that they are
reckless gamblers by the advice they give to the player at the table.

Hello all, but I have to comment too!
I gotta agree with Dan and the others that think the contestants are not attention seeking (cept Nagib who appeared to be but was edited out well!)

When you are there on the wings, you are in a bubble so to speak. DOND is your life! You live with the contestants, eat and socialise with them. By the end of your time there you have made GREAT friends! So when it's there show, nothing else matters to you but them doing well. The emotion you see on the wings, be it fingers crossed or screaming is genuine. When I was there, i had my fingers crossed nearly all the time! Gave advice, cheered etc ( Not all of this was shown (Thank god! lol) ) and I was oblivious to the cameras! Ok i had an advantage there, I couldn't see the cameras cos of my vision, but it is an emotional rollercoaster and at the time all you are concentrating on is your friend in the crazy chair!

During my game, Aby & Hannahs screaming kept me grounded! I kept looking over at them and smiling. When you are in the crazy chair it can feel really lonely and scarey, so thankfully your friends are there to encourage and support you.

Had a blast there! DOND has changed my life!!

Andy (Andreas)

Precisely. And even that is a function of certain production decisions which can and IMO should be reversed.

I don't think that high a proportion give Wakeyistic advice for their own potential gain. As Daniel said elsewhere, contestants don't want to see others who they have got to know leave with next to nothing. We used to get a bit of "I'd go on, but I think you should deal" but I can't remember seeing that recently.

In the editing we tend to see a mixture of opinions make the cut, to highlight the fact it's a difficult decision. You'll only see unanimous no deals when the offer is barely worth considering.