"A quarter of a million pounds, 22 identically sealed boxes, and no question, except of course one: Deal or No Deal!"

Greetings friends, and welcome to the first of, what I hope will be, a series of 'classic re-commentaries', in which I, former forum commentator hogwild94, aka the guy who did loads of commentaries before just saying the same things every game, re-visit some of Deal or No Deal's all-time classic episodes. Some just for old time's sake/fun, and other that I feel are deserving of a second opinion given the very different circumstances we now find ourselves in. I'm open to requests, so, if you know of one you want me to cover, drop me a message along with a YouTube link to the FULL episode (all box opening must be present).

Anyway, to kickstart this series, we go back nearly to the very beginning, and an episode I didn't see first time out (though my Grandmother, God rest her soul, maybe did). I decided to do this episode after psychokiller posted this in response to my recent 'Looking back' post:



Well, let's see, shall we?

OK, so I'm using a moderately good quality YouTube upload for this.

Noel introduces as we saw before, and wishes a happy St David's Day to everyone, especially Welsh winger David. As its still early days, he quickly runs us through how the game works before, quite prophetically, pointing out that only Nick Bain has won the 1p!

Today's player is: Trevor!

Trevor Bruce has Box 14. He thanks Noel for coming on his show! He's a retired company manager, used to work for Sheffield newspapers. His lucky numbers are 5, 8 and 13. He likes to gamble on a small scale, he's been to Vegas twice and never lost more than £10. He has a photo montage of his family.

He confirms he indeed select his box at random. And here we go...

"Channel 4 is now yours."

No applause, straight into the game. And he's starting with his lucky numbers. Noel says people have asked him "why don't you do a celebrity version of the show"(!), and they have, as Trevor looks just like Nicholas Parsons! Yeah, I can see that.

Box 8 with Mike - £5,000

He can cope with that, "but don't anyone else get any ideas!"

Box 5 with 50-show Lucy - £5

Box 13 with the afore-mentioned David - £35,000

Box 9 with Paula - £100,000

"And that is disastrous", says Noel. Trevor is not as happy now, but he promised his wife he'd take a cheque home, even if it was for 1p!

Box 4 with Norma - £1

And that's the first round.

Trevor is fed up of traveling economy, he wants first class from now on! He talks about wanting to go to visit his brother in Australia. Noel says he has done the 'rotter thing' of personalising his game.

The Banker calls. "There are two types of people in this world: people who listen to my advice, and fools!"

And the first offer is £1,100

"We may as well push on Noel."

NO DEAL

Round 2...

Box 12 with Patrick - £10,000

Later years, and that would've probably got "That's OK" and applause, but not here.

"It's time like these I wish I was a Blairite. But I'm not!" (Wonder what Twitter would've made of that!)

Box 3 with £75k Germaine - £20,000

"Another one with the red mist!"

Box 19 with Sam - after the break! Noel says he want a cuddly box, so makes all the wingers cuddle each other during the break!

Back from the break. And Noel says we shouldn't be depressed, unless this is a Power 5.

Sam reveals £3,000 in Box 19.

"Not going well, is it?" Noel tells him not to say that, it'll give the Banker the psychological advantage.

The Banker picks up on this, and he says this will be "walking for Trevor".

BANKER'S OFFER

£7,500

A smattering of applause.

He doesn't just want to go to Australia, he wants to go to other places as well. He needs more money. He's convinced the game will be better from now on.

NO DEAL

Box 6 with Lisa - £1,000

"We need the Banker to realise you are not beaten."

Box 2 with Flash - £75,000

Big "AARGH!" from Noel. "Three reds left, only two blues gone. This is extraordinary."

Box 15 with Alison (the newbie) - £10

"Yes!" says Noel.

"I'm disappointed. I was hoping I'd be doing better at this stage." But the £250,000's still there and he has lots of blues to hit, so...

He asks if he can answer the phone. "Thank you for calling the Trevor Bruce show, you have three options. Option 1: offer me £100,000 and I walk! Option 2: £30,000, and you've got me in a quandry. Option 3: £1,000, and you know where I'm going. Thank you for calling, have a nice day!"

His response to all three options: NO DEAL!

Noel starts shouting "You're wrong!" a lot. The Banker says everyone in the studio knows Trevor is beaten.

BANKER'S OFFER

£3,500

Noel says we're spending the wrong message. Noel asks if Trevor is seriously considering taking this! "I'm supposed to be impartial, I'm not supposed to lead you!" Wow.

Trevor rather grumpily says NO DEAL!

Noel tries to change the mood. He tells Trevor to just say three numbers and go with them...

Box 16 with Sarah - £100

Box 18 with James - £15,000

That stops the positive vibes in their tracks. "Not disastrous, not comfortable."

Box 7 with Candice - after the break!

We're back...

"Trevor's having a most unusual game."

Candice reveals £500 in Box 7.

"It just feels like we've got to live on a little bit longer. Everything is all about timing. If we lose the £250,000, everything is wrong."

"It's still there," says Trevor.

The Banker opens with "Well well", before flat out admitting he's enticing Trevor to gamble.

BANKER'S OFFER

£9,900

Trevor says the odds are in his favour, and the Banker has to be wary as long as the £250,000 is there. He says the odds are he'll take blues out now.

NO DEAL

"Good luck" says Noel.

Box 17 with £50k Saj - £750

Trevor now has no numbers in his mind. Noel says he can still destroy the game in this round.

Box 11 with Marcus - 50p

"Now you can't take both of them."

Box 22 with 'Fireman Sam' Matt - £50,000

"Now it's all or peanuts! Extraordinary!"

"It's such a big scope now. He can do anything between there. But if he's not careful, I'm taking the money off of him!"

The Banker thinks Trevor didn't take the last offer seriously. So, he's offering it again...

BANKER'S OFFER

£9,900

Silence. Trevor shakes his head.

"And now, I think, my role, Trevor, is to make you think long and hard about your ambitions."

"That amount of money would get me to Australia and round the other side, but I wouldn't have anything left to give to my family. I don't believe in luck; you make your own luck. You think about other people first, and help other people when you can. It'll all come back round."

Noel says it is now a straight foward coin toss. Trevor always said he'd go for it on a board like this.

NO DEAL!

A few gasps, followed by big applause and cheers of support.

"I really hope your bravery is now going to be rewarded."

Box 20 with Barbara - £50

Everyone's really cheering hard now.

Box 10 with Nick - 10p

Even bigger cheers! A few whistles and "COME ON"s.

Box 1 with Marilyn - ...

"You have told us your dream. We have nothing else, other than the chance to create a nightmare, or fulfill your dream. It's on this box, and this box alone."

Someone shouts "COME ON TREVOR!"

... £250,000!!!!!

Everyone groands loudly. "OH! NO!" cries Noel. Followed by total silence. Trevor looks devastated.

"You gave it a really good shot." Noel says everyone is absolutely destroyed for him. "Now we have a real dilemma." Trevor is clearly struggling to keep his emotions in check.

The Banker was shaken to core by what happened.

BANKER'S OFFER

£99

"It produces a mega dilemma for you." Noel does not want Trevor to win 1p, and wants him to think long hard about the offer.

But he quickly says NO DEAL.

"Respecfully, you may have a swap."

"No thank you."

"I'm not going to drag this out, we know exactly the scale..."

Noel opens Trevor's Box 14.

"...it's 1p."

"Oh, you're joking!" says someone off screen.

Box 21 with Jim R contains the £250.

Trevor says nothing as Noel shakes his hand and thanks him for playing the game with open words. He is clearly gutted.

Right, I'll take a rest now before coming back with my personal thoughts later.