The award-winning Channel 4 blockbuster Deal or No Deal hosted by Noel Edmonds and produced by Endemol UK is recorded at BBC Studios and Post Production’s Bristol Paintworks facilities. The hugely successful, high drama game show based on chance and nerve, is recorded in the round in Studio 6, a 7,000 sq ft studio. In each show a contestant opens 22 sealed boxes with different amounts of money ranging from 1p to £250,000 in a random order, hoping to keep the highest amount until last and negotiating with an off-screen Banker along the way via the phone, who offers sums of money - ‘deals’ to stop the game.

BBC Studios and Post Production (BBC S&PP) has supported the programme, providing a complete multi-camera studio and post production solution since October 2010. Endemol UK previously ran a self-operating model and looked to outsource to realise costs savings and other efficiencies. The win was on the back of BBC S&PP’s already successful relationship with Endemol, making programmes for a variety of Endemol UK Group companies, including Pointless, I Can Cook, 8 out of 10 Cats, Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night and ITV’s Odd One In.

It is an incredibly slick operation, with the show recorded as live with no rehearsals and very few retakes. Around 288 episodes are recorded each year, including 5 specials such as Christmas or Trick or Treat, with bespoke sets and costumes. It is a demanding schedule with 16 weeks of filming across 6 months, recording up to four episodes a day. Each 60 minute show takes around an hour and a half to record and 3.5 days to edit, mix the sound, grade and finish.

7 cameras are used – a steadicam, a hand-held and five pedestal cameras. The programme is recorded in standard definition on XDCam – a tapeless post production solution, which not only delivers stock efficiencies but also enhances the gallery operation as there is instant restart and no need for a dedicated tape operation. BBC Studios and Post Production provides the technical crew, a mixture of staff and freelancers, including cameras, vision, lighting and sound.

Post Production is provided via The Farm, who have long-standing experience of making the show. One of the creative challenges is teasing out the story created by the banker and Noel in the post production stage.

Tim Deane, BBC Studios and Post Production Resource Manager says: “We had just four weeks at the start of the schedule to build and fit out new lighting, sound and production galleries, so timing was extremely tight, but we achieved it. Deal or No Deal works really well – the production team benefit from having everything available on one site – the studios, galleries, production offices, art department, audience holding areas and parking. And with the studios and post production operation taken care of, they can fully focus all their efforts on screen”. 

Credits
Glenn Hugill – Executive Producer
Richard Hague – Executive Producer
Aaron Paul – Series Producer
Phil Jowett – Unit Manager

For further information, please contact:
Georgie Hollett, Head of Communications, BBC Studios and Post Production
Tel: +44 (0)20 8624 9495
Mobile : +44 (0) 783484 5612
Email : georgie.hollett@bbc.co.uk

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