The extended time of DOND has generated a lot of discussion. I thought it would be interesting to have a poll. If you could choose whether you wanted 45 minutes or an hour permanently (excluding specials) what would be your preference?

Having watched the last 2 days, I think in the majority of cass, I prefer the hour long DOND (especially as I watch on 4OD so the 3 advert breaks don't apply to me).

I agree, I prefer the hour long format too. In some cases there may be games that feel unnecessarily dragged out, but in games like Archie's, for example, it allowed for much more of the fun banter to be kept in.

I understand why some people might not like the new hour long format though, especially the addition of an extra advert break (as I watch the show via Virgin Media's On Demand service it doesn't bother me).

Maybe DoND should have always been an hour long, or would that have put people off in the start? It would have been interesting to see certain games from the past with extra footage.

I've got used to the hour-long format, but it felt a bit odd at first. It's great for shows like Archie's where there's lots of banter, but the 45-minute shows are probably more suited to the quieter games and contestants.

The longer shows allow us to get to know the contestants a bit more as Noel has longer chats with them, but it also allows the banker to throw in extra twists. I'm fairly certain Noel's backstage chair (which was a "present" from the banker and appeared on the first hour-long show, I believe) was placed there to enable unusual things to happen in the longer format; the most recent example being those two blokes from the audience who acted as the banker's assistants.

The 45-minute shows this week seem rushed presumably because I've got used to the hour-long format.


I suspect if they'd been an hour long from the start, then people would've still tuned in and it'd have still been the great success it has been. It's just that extending it from 45 minutes to 1 hour is a change that people will notice after 5½ years of being 45 minutes long.

Dare I say it - it depends who the player is. Even an averaging game like Derrick's, Tomas's or Archie's are great in a hour slot when you get the extra benefit of big personalities, others can just drag on unnecessarily!

I like the 1 hour programs - it seldom seems padded - It was better for the love week specials too.
Actually I dont think the games are longer when filmed they are just using more of the edit (and more ad breaks )

I agree with you. In games where there is a big personality, the hour long format is great. I'm glad Archie was picked for an hour long game. Games where a big decision has to be made, like in Dale's game the hour long format works very well, as Noel can have a long(ish) chat with the player, a bit of banter can be kept in and the tension can be built up at the end. In the 45 minute format, I sometimes felt that games like Dale's seemed a bit rushed, especially in the early part of the show. Games where the player deals early or has an unavoidable trainwreck seem very long and drawn out.

That's a surprise. I thought more people would think that the show had lost its pace, but the game itself doesn't make for the complete experience of the show, I suppose, so I understand that.

Part of the reason is that they have time to do those little gambles with players. I never quite understand why they're even offered, like the 7/8 Double or Nothing and the Silver Envelope, to specific contestants and not others, but that's part of what the hour allows.

Then again, the concept of even having a 45-minute show goes over our heads in the US. It's 30 or 60. Choose one.

I think the game is better at 45 minutes, but the show can be better at an hour. And some games have a longer 'natural length' than others. Oh, how I wish Lance and Clive had hour-long slots...

45 minutes definately. I prefer the game where there is more tense decision making and long tense rounds rather than 10 minute offer stages filled with boring codswallop unrelated to the game

i think an hour as it not as rushed