George's game today.

Noel dressed in a shirt that looked absolutely fine until I saw the floral pattern on it. He delivers a highly overblown introduction in which he said that he didn't realise the show would be so stressful... he pretends to take medication... and then crawls to the board mockingly begging the player to take the first offer!! Did he know I was commentating?!?

(I urge you to watch the intro on 4oD because I cannot do it justice.)

George Cook is a part-time English and Maths tutor at the weekends, and a stage management student during the week... he's from Rainham, Essex.

His first photo is of him (aged 7) at his mother's wedding, which he sees as the start of when he started to come out of his shell. Another photo of his family comes out, and he says that he doesn't let his family members make him make his mind up. When asked if his determination will carry him through the game, he simply says he'll see how it plays out.

Surly nod of the head to confirm he has Box 21... and we are away.

Round 1

George has an envelope to be passed onto the Banker, but will not give it to him yet.

5 - £3,000 Matt
1 - 10p Newbie Stacey (I think - her hair covered her name badge)
12 - 50p Emma
Crowd already chanting...
16 - 1p Olga
More of a hug than a kiss for the 1p but who cares? George emphasises he has no system, and asks someone for a box!
22 - £100 Jonny

Banker time.

A new week that is in need of big wins as if there wasn't enough already

And that is a brilliant start

Banker says he can't remember the last time such a young player was consulted for advice so often, and cannot read him... that plus the board worries him. He isn't sure if he is a risk-taker or a target-driven player... George makes the tactical blunder of writing a target in the book, but the Banker thinks his target might simply be an OPW!

Banker's offer:

£16,000

The Banker said if his aim was a spanking, he could get it with this offer! George points out that as a student, £16,000 would "do him wonders". He decides to pass his envelope on at this point. Noel asks if we'll find out what the envelope contains, and George says we may not find out...

George says NO DEAL. Noel doesn't thank him for it!

Noel continues to wonder about the contents of the envelope as he calls the first break...

Whatever it is, I hope the envelope doesn't distract him from a potential powerful board...

£16k at the first offer. Let's just hope this isn't a game where that's the peak.

We're back for part two. Noel wonders if we'll learn about both the envelope gift and George in this round!

Round 2

9 - £50 Anthony
20 - £10 Irene
2 - £250,000 Charlie

Banker time

I was just about to say "what a board" but then the £250,000 got hit.

Still though...

What a board.

Never a good time to see the QM but that might have just saved him having to turn down a £25k offer if that was a blue then.

Massive relief for the Banker, who confirms the contents of the envelope will be revealed at the end of the game, but was "brilliant" and "very funny". He's now anticipating George might not be stopped...

Banker's offer:

£12,000

Dealable. But there's enough stability to push one more round I think. It's another of those where there's limited upside potential due to the lack of the QM pushing the average up.

George calls the offers "incredible". He says the only two people who could make him change his mind are not in the audience - for that very reason. They are his mum and nan. He says he is here to enjoy himself, and that there is more of that left.

George says NO DEAL.

Round 3

15 - £250 Zoleka
4 - £5 Poppy
Noel starts presuming George is an "OHO", and that the block of reds makes this "astonishing"... that's your hyperbolic break link, folks...

And if he's not the blind gambler Noel implied he was with the OHO nonsense, he could have had a lot of regrets if coaxed into chasing that sort of offer if it went in round 3. At least he has not only a perfect board for game-chasing at this point, but very little to chase. Mean is already above starting value even without the QM on the board, and FD is over £16k.

2nd ad break at 4:18??
Are we in for another player going all the way?
£12k was generous having taken out £250k.

We're back. It's 4:23pm and there are only twelve boxes left. Despite the £250k being absent, Noel talks up this board big time.

George calls for a pilgrim to choose the next box...

Round 3 continued
8 - £50,000 Beryl-Anne

Banker time