Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

[barry1010]

I'm convinced that the contestants 'phone a friend's are not in their homes with a member of the production company but huddled in a room in the studio.

Am I right?

[Cloverjo]

I'd never thought about it, but, yes, you could be right. 

[ToraToraTora]

they'd have to have 18 of them available, not practical. Occam's Razor barry!

[barry1010]

Each contestant can have two friends, anywhere in the UK.

That's a lot of staff to act as babysitters 

[ToraToraTora]

looke like you are correct barry:

https://millionaire.fandom.com/wiki/Phone-a-Friend

 

[Cloverjo]

Otherwise, you'd need X times the number of people potentially in the hot seat in their homes for a whole day or so. Most of them doing nothing until the call comes. How awkward would that be? On that basis, I might say no if any of my friends asked me to do the honour.

[Cloverjo]

Well done, Tora. That makes sense now. Why do they lie to us?

Chris Tarrant used to pretend the show was going out live and would put his thumb over the date on the cheque.

[Milvus]

 I was a P.A.F a few years ago (sadly not used). Did it from home, no chaperone, just a phone call from the programme shortly before the event, explaining what would happen and how to respond.

[Hymie]

I remember ‘The Golden Shot’ from the 1960s; contestants taking part by phone (from somewhere in the TV studio) would qualify to appear on the programme aired the following week, and would be asked to confirm that they would attend the show next week.  One old dear, clearly not being able to come back next week, had to be cajoled to confirm that she would be back next week – unaware that next weeks’ show would be recorded that day.

 

And of course in the TV game show ‘The Price is Right’, Leslie Crowther would regularly start the show complementing the audience that they were much better than that of last weeks’ show – with it being the same audience (two shows recorded in one session – much like Master Mind).

[ToraToraTora]

And of course in the TV game show ‘The Price is Right’, Leslie Crowther would regularly start the show complementing the audience that they were much better than that of last weeks’

that was Bruce Forsyth in play your cards right

[Cloverjo]

Yes, hymie. And another on Millionaire: the klaxon sounded as a woman was midway through her time. We were supposed to believe she'd go home for the week. But she said 'I have to go and get changed now, don't I?' Jeremy said, 'Err...yes, I'll see you in 15 minutes.' 

[davebro3]

I have no friends who know more than I do!

[andres]

There was an article explaing how they compiled this programme a few years ago now. Like this thread so many people were querying how they did it. I don't remember just when it was .

As Milvus @15.19 said the friends were in their own homes and then bsomewhere along the way it was changed to the friend having someone with them as a chaperone. At one time there woulkd be the usual advert break and the contestant would return to the screen dressed in a different outfit. Anyone remember that?

 

[barry1010]

TV is all smoke and mirrors.

I wonder how many shirts and tops Countdown contestants have to pack?