Hit TV show Deal Or No Deal is set to return to our screens after being axed by Channel 4 seven years ago.
The gameshow with the famous red boxes is heading to ITV, it has been announced. Britain’s Got More Talent favourite Stephen Mulhern will host the series, which is now looking for contestants.
He said: “Wow what an opportunity, I’m beyond excited to be hosting the brand-new series. I’ve always been such a huge fan of the show, so much so, I’ve been practising at home with small cereal boxes!”
ITV’s head of entertainment commissioning, Katie Rawcliffe, said: “Deal Or No Deal is such an iconic format and we are delighted that it will be joining the ITV family. Stephen’s infectious warmth and wit mixed with his natural rapport with members of the public is the perfect combination for this much-loved TV series.”
Here’s everything we know.
Will the show be the same as before?
It sounds that way. It is expected contestants will once again face 22 sealed boxes, each one hiding a different amount of money from 1p to £250,000, and one of which belongs to them. Unaware of the amount of money in any of the boxes, the contestant must eliminate the boxes, which are opened one at a time to reveal how much money is inside. Every time they open a box they can choose to “deal or no deal” and keep that amount or play on in the hope of claiming the biggest prize of £250,000. Along the way, the show’s Banker, whose identity was kept a secret in the original series, will try to tempt the contestant to accept cash in exchange for what their box may contain.
When was Deal or No Deal last on our screens?
The show was axed by Channel 4 in 2016 and was previously presented by Noel Edmonds. It ran for 11 years after it launched on Channel 4 in 2005.
For the final series, Edmonds took the show on the road, embarking on a “farewell tour” of the UK and took the show’s 22 red boxes to the audience at various landmark locations.
How many people have ever won the full jackpot?
Only nine people in the show’s whole history have ever walked away with the £250,000 prize fund.
When will the new series hit our screens?
No date has yet been announced. ITV said it is only just starting to look at contestants and no filming has taken place.
Who is the new host?
Stephen Mulhern has been tasked with taking over the hosting of the new series, which has switched from Channel 4 to ITV. He is a well-known presenter on the TV channel, known for Britain’s Got Talent spin-off Britain’s Got More Talent and Catchphrase.
How can I get involved?
People wanting to apply to be on the show can do so now by filling out an application form on the show’s official website here. Entries close for new contestants on Friday May 12, with filming expected to start shortly after.
