Yeah, this seems to just be more drawn out now. The banter was always part of the shows charm, but I think this is overdoing it a bit now.

Especially with these joke offers. We're nearly 25 minutes into this, and gameplay wise nothing of interest has happened.

I'll watch this play out but doubt i'll be watching the first 45 minutes of this new format.

Thought they'd go HD if they were making all these changes. Given how many other shows now have...

Anyway, first offer hints at "the game starts at five-box". Doesn't scream it, not yet. Second offer does.

Round 3

The banker phones and says Marilyn's tone of voice has made him re-think things, and he now believes she's here for the big money. Noel says he likes her skirt and thinks it's quite cheeky as it has a slit in it!

Irene now, and she talks about a parachute jump she did, and how she had a bloke on her back on the way down.

15 - Irene - £100,000

21 - Haroon - £5,000

Lucie gives Marilyn a bit of pep-talk...

Noel calls a break...

So it looks like we've gone from a 7 box, 6 box, 9 box show in terms of segments to 5 box, 5 box, 6 box, 6 box

We're back

Last box before the Banker

Marilyn talks about where she lives and tries to get Noel to pronounce the Welsh place-name! She says she lives next door to a brewery and a *beep* factory!

13 - Jim - £100

Banker time

The banker says he doesn't like Lucie for the pep-talk.

Banker's offer:

£6,000

Marilyn says

NO DEAL

Round 4

Noel talks about how Marilyn once danced with a young man and flashed her bits! She tells the full story of what happened and how her bra strap fell off! Noel asks her why she showed her knickers in the supermarket, so she tells a story of what happened when she bent over the freezer!!

14 - Lucie - 10p

11 - Ian - £50,000

22 - Hannah - £750

Banker time

I'm sure Countdown is still recorded in SD as well as the National Lottery game shows. I think they couldn't get the show recorded in HD because of either they couldn't afford it (as we know, budget cuts for the next two years) or Paintworks is not suitable to have the equipment installed.

The banker says he's focussing on the 1p and £1 on the board.

Banker's offer:

£11,500

That really isn't enough for the board but might be enough for the player.

Please please please have the early deal just to show how unncessarily long winded this now is.

Actually, more time also means showing more of the decision process, which could be a good thing.

I've a feeling she's going to deal but it's worth at least another round.

This is just too much though...

Marilyn asks her husband what to do and he says it's a good offer. Marilyn worries about what happens if she takes out the 2 big ones. She asks Jen, who says there are only 2 values higher than the offer. Dave says the banker will have to increase the offer a lot, if she takes out the blues.

Marilyn talks about her ambition to go to Australia, as her friend lives out there. The banker rings and says the next offer will shoot up after a good round, but she could also take out the 2 big ones. He speaks to her and she says he's a very nice man. Noel wonders if the banker's got her.

Marilyn says this is so hard, so she asks for a sweep and most of the others say she should deal, but one or two say she should go on.

Marilyn says

DEAL

Noel calls a break...

Worth going on at least one more round. Hopefully it was the right choice to make.

It gives a better sense to the viewer of how hard these decisions can be.

If she can take out one of the big 2 in the next round, the offer shouldn't go up too much.

True. But I already know it's a hard decision and think the show made that clear. For those who didn't realise then now they do. But that doesn't make it good TV. Watching someone think for 7 minutes for an offer is just boring to me.