Deal or No Deal fans accuse ITV of ‘killing show’ as they spot major change to new series
DEAL or No Deal fans have ripped into ITV and accused them of ‘killing’ the game show after spotting a major change.
The hit programme returned to daytime schedules last year after being rebooted by the broadcaster.
It originally aired on Channel 4 between 2005 and 2016, spanning 13 series.
Stephen Mulhern took over hosting the game show from Noel Edmonds after being given his ‘blessing’.
But as the rebooted show’s second series airs on ITV1, fans have accused the channel of ‘killing’ the format.
They noticed how the prize money up for grabs has been slashed by a whopping £150k, with the eye-watering £250,000 top prize axed.
Some of the other red prizes on offer have also disappeared, such as the £35k and £7.5k boxes.
Fans have only seemed to notice the big change and took to a web forum to comment on the changes.
One said: “The bulk of the offers seem to be around £1-3K max. They’ve lost alot of the real jeopardy in it.”
A second wrote: “Have no clue why every game show looks so cheap and in pitch black. Why is every game show in pitch black now?”
A third commented: “It does seem very tight considering the Channel 4 version began nearly 20 years ago and had £250k as top prize. No idea what that would be in today’s money but probably £350k or thereabouts?
Stephen Mulhern previously told The Sun how the series was his most rewarding job to date.
He said: “It’s the hardest job but the most rewarding”.
“It is the biggest shock to my career because I knew the show was big, when Noel Edmonds used to do it.”
Deal or No Deal in numbers
2005 saw it first launch with Noel Edmonds as host
2,985 episodes produced in its first run on Channel 4
16 celebrity specials aired across Channel 4 and ITV
12 series produced so far, with the 13th on the way
9 top prize winners to date, each scooping £250,000