As we all know, no one in the history of the game has taken either of the first two offers, and really, considering the reputation that they've gained these days (and the fact that they're much less inflated than they used to be circa early 2007) means that it's unlikely to ever happen. But early in the show's lifetime there were a number of occasions where we came close.

Aaron (the second person to have an all-blue opening round) got a second offer of 30k, and considered it carefully before turning it down in order to give a more exciting game. Dot also did at 12k (she wanted a car with her winnings), and rejected it for similar reasons. Had those offers been taken, they would have been OPWs! (Though tbf, Aaron managed to get a solid 25k anyway). Also, around late 2006/early 2007 time, there were a number of dealable second offers, most notably Swappy Matt's 35k, though these weren't considered as much since people seemed to be a lot less risk-averse back then.

In addition, Beryl (the one who dealt at 3.1k) was very cautious indeed, and I reckon if she'd played a year after she actually did, she probably would have taken the second offer (possibly even the first!). And if on one of these many occasions a 2nd offer had been dealt, how would that have affected the show as a whole? In the game's aftermath, there may well have been more second offer dealers, and consequently perhaps more third offer dealers as well. We got our first 3rd offer dealer relatively early on (Jenni in early Jan 2006), but if we hadn't I reckon that would have been made just as taboo. Once the pressure of being the first one has gone, it would be much easier for subsequent players to deal at those points.

But ultimately we'll probably never find out. Nowadays it's gotten to the point where the idea of dealing that early is considered a joke rather than a serious proposition. And since they hardly ever exceed 15k these days they won't be tempted in that respect either. Back in the early days contestants were told that if they dealt the first two offers their game wouldn't be shown; does anyone known if that rule still applies? I can see how editing that might be a bit of a problem...

I think the only chance of a second offer deal is if we had a statistician playing and the banker offered something insanely generous. I'd love to see Noel's reaction if and when we ever get a second offer deal.

I don't even think that will be enough. We had precisely that with Aaron, when the second-offer stigma was far less entrenched, and he played on anyway. At the time, he said that the presence of £250k and the feeling he "hadn't been there long enough" were his reasons for playing on. Neither of those are mathematical justifications, both of those are arbitrary distinctions, and I believe that he shows that even most statisticians would be influenced in that manner.

And the ones that aren't would probably get deflated offers to make sure they at least got to 11-box, and probably further. I think the only contestant in the last three years who had any chance to do a Deal at 14-box was Dan Judge - every other contestant in remotely recent DoND history has either been too much of a risk-taker to take even a generous second offer or too obedient to even consider one. Or both. Usually both.

We will never get a second-offer Deal if this show goes on for the whole of this decade. We will, however, get about one player a year who will turn down the second offer out of a false sense of duty and regrets it, a lá Dot.

I definitely remember one second offer I would have taken was 1p Matty - IIRC it was £20k on a board with the £100k and £75k already gone! There was some others in 2006 like Wayne and Ashok whose games never saw anywhere near that amount again!

I think I'd have taken Matt Borer's 2nd offer of £35,000 - even though he'd hit 8 blues, it was still very generous, and it was difficult to see a huge increase unless he took one of the top 2 to 2-box, really.

There has been a few times where I'd have considered and possibly taken the second offer. I think a second offer will come one day. It'll probably be a stats man/woman who gets a generous offer. Another possible second offer dealer would be a strict targetist who hasn't told anyone connected with the show of their target. If they manage to take out 8 low boxes (anything under £10k), they'll probably be offered something around the £20k mark. Had Controversial Richard's second offer been a couple of thousand more, I reckon he'd have dealt. Thing is, if someone dealt at the 2nd offer, would their game be shown on TV? I'm sure there would be some form of Banker's Gamble.

I'd have taken Matt's, probably Aaron's though less certain of that, Matty's for certain, and probably about a dozen others, largely from early 2007.

Given there's not too many things that haven't happened on the show, I'm sure a 2nd offer deal would be shown.

I suppose if it ever did happen, Noel would ask them if they wanted the question again and if they were absolutely sure and all that stuff, and if they were serious he'd have a heart attack and the contestant would get no money.

I suppose if we get a strong targetist for something along the lines of 10 or 15k, and they have a really good board at 14-box, it might happen. If 2nd offers had stayed at early 2007 levels for the show's entire run I'm sure we'd have gotten a couple.