The Million Pound Drop

By | April 8, 2010

Details soon to be released on Endemol’s new Channel 4 show where people stand to win or most probably not win a million quid live on telly. There are both Twitter and Facebook pages for it (very 2008).

The big question is: is it just the same format as ABCs upcoming Downfall, but without the skyscraper gimmick? Come on Endemol, I know you’re reading.

Edit: answer to my own question: probably not, Downfall is Fremantle. That’ll learn me.

43 thoughts on “The Million Pound Drop

  1. Travis P

    I thought the show isn’t launching until 2011 to fill the Big Brother void?

    Tonight’s HIGNFY must be Brig’s dream edition. Richard Herring and Vicki Coren on the same show. While according to Xander Armstrong, Only Connect is a blatant rip-off to the odd one out round. 😉

    Reply
    1. Brig Bother Post author

      I thought the show isn’t launching until 2011 to fill the Big Brother void?

      This is a great point, although all the signs seem to suggest they’re going to try it this sometime over the Summer in some capacity. I think it was only intended to fill one week of the Big Brother void, anyway.

      Reply
  2. Simon

    Vicki was great on HIGNFY tonight (although JULY would only be worth 42 points on a triple word as Richard Herring said)

    Reply
  3. Alex

    Is it just me or does The Million Pound Drop sound a bit like that Succes Verzekherd or whatever that Dutch format I’m thinking of is?

    Reply
    1. art begotti

      That’s kinda what I was hoping for as well, but apparently either Downfall or the Million Pound Drop (I can’t remember which) throws in a pressure-by-time-limit element, which kinda makes me suspect it’s something else…

      Reply
    2. Brig Bother Post author

      Yes I can see why people can come to that conclusion, although I think (although I’ve no proof) it’s also all-or-nothing.

      Reply
      1. art begotti

        But what about the line from the Facebook page, “Would you be able to cope if you started losing the money?” Doesn’t that sorta imply that partial jackpots could be won?

        Reply
        1. Alex

          Wouldn’t a £1m all-or-nothing jackpot in a show be REALLY risky? That way you’re treading a very thin line between making it too easy, and giving out £1,000,000 every week, or making it too hard, giving out no money in a series and making the viewers a bit bored.

          Reply
          1. Brig Bother Post author

            I think to be honest having a quiz with people starting with a massive top prize that gets increasingly whittled away is risky anyway, because once everyone’s seen the show and got off of the OMG!!! element, if a contestant gets off to a bad start and the only way is down you’re just inviting people to switch over.

            I may be wrong, so I look forward to seeing it.

          2. Alex

            Yeah, it’s pretty much the only situation where a 100k max jackpot is actually a reason to switch off.

          3. Brig Bother Post author

            I think DonD can weather that sort of thing better because the show is more than the sum its parts, and you can still get an exciting and entertaining game out of it (there are “up” elements to go along with the “once it’s gone it’s gone” elements). But even my mum complains when there hasn’t been a big winner for ages.

            There’s a good reason why Millionaire-style money trees have hung around for so long – they work, basically.

  4. Alex Davis

    Anyone else see Wednesday’s (episode 2?) Divided? Watched it a bit ago. I really like the show a lot for some crazy reason but that specific episode’s ending may have been the most uncomfortable game show moment I’ve ever seen. It went beyond the usual bickering to legitimate furious shouting, name calling, and personal attacks towards the end. I’m stunned no one threw a punch.

    From what I’ve seen this season it looks like they are casting more confrontational people than in the past. That or people just know what they are getting into now and say, “I’m taking A and if you don’t like it, blow me,” thinking that someone will back down like before. Not really stopping me from watching it. I’ve rewound to the above uncomfortable moment a few times since it was jaw dropping. I’ve never seen anything like that in a game show.

    Reply
    1. Alex

      And this is why if I got saddled with an “I’m taking A or we’re getting nothing” type, I would silently take them up on their offer of nothing, and just stare them down for 100 seconds.

      Reply
    2. Travis P

      I suggest you watch today’s show 😉

      P.S. Did you get my Facebook message regarding the strange email you sent?

      Reply
      1. Alex Davis

        I did and I’m sorry I didn’t reply just yet. It wasn’t intentional I’ve had to answer so many emails regarding it that I’m getting confused as to who I actually got ahold of.

        My Gmail account, which I barely use anymore, got hacked into and a ton of people got sent what appears to be cheap Viagra links. I posted on Facebook that it amuses me to no end that some people (and this doesn’t include you, Travis), who I figured would have known me by now, think I’d start an email with ~~HI!~~ and tell them about boner pills. If I haven’t given you an erection by now I probably won’t ever. I basically only use my website email now.

        And thanks for the Divided recommendation. I’ll get it ASAP. I, too, wish they’d put it on the ITV Player. I’ve got a way to watch the BBC and ITV Player. BBC’s is great. ITV is severely lacking. It seems like NBC’s; they only put a small number of episodes up.

        Reply
        1. Travis P

          I wasn’t sure if you was aware as you kept your signature under the Gmail settings, since the email had the link with your contact details.

          ITV Player is just crap. Now you claim to see the iPlayer, why don’t you put up some current Who Dares Wins as a future weekend feature for the US folk?

          Reply
          1. Alex Davis

            Definitely, I love posting the UK and other foreign-to-US shows. We get a ton of attention and complements for it. The only player not working, for some reason, is Channel4. ITV and BBC Players work perfectly.

            I’ve actually been talking to the guy who created Divided on Twitter. He said he’s glad to see the show doing well somewhere at least.

          2. Brig Bother Post author

            Ha ha, just you wait until Jeremy Kyle invades America, it’s like Jerry Springer done properly.

    3. Mart with a Y not an I

      I was watching Divided on Wednesday as well, and I whilst I was watching it, I thought a lot of the nastyness had been ‘lost’ in the edit suite – but it was still menacing to watch.

      It must have gone on for ages, as there was one routine cut away to a solo shot of the contestant standing on the left (who played very little part in the shouting match, but made no attempt to calm the waters) and then you saw Andrew who must have had a direction from the gallery to step in between centre and right contestant positions as if something uncalled for had of gone on then Castle would have been a suitable barrier.

      It’s only a quiz show for goodness sake..

      Reply
      1. Travis P

        Would be interesting if Andrew wasn’t there and adapted the Dutch style with the question master sitting backstage.

        Reply
  5. Thomas

    Someone on quizzing claims to have the form for ‘Drop’ (I’m assuming it’s the same as TMPD) as does a facebooker. Are the forms out there? I can’t seem to find one. Anyone know anything?

    Reply
  6. Chris M. Dickson

    Unrelatedly, anyone watching the Chris Tarrant Comedy Roast? It’s not great – a few witty parts, but mostly quite generic. Ah well, perhaps Jack Dee might turn it around.

    Reply
    1. Simon

      They have generally been quite awful (mainly due to the lack of quality of the roasters). How many times can you make jokes about Chris Tarrant

      a) Being adulterous
      b) Hosting WWTBAM
      c) Hosting an incredible amount of naff shows.

      Reply
    2. Travis P

      Poor Jamie Theakston. This is what happens when you don’t get a TV gig anymore.

      I actually found the three roasts pretty amusing. Sharon Osbourne’s roast last night was pretty brutal.

      Reply
  7. John R

    I wish ITV would get their finger out and get Divided on ITV Player, my PVR is buggered and I don’t get in from work till 6pm on evenings!

    Reply
    1. Daniel Peake

      Here Here! I missed Wednesdays and Fridays, so I’m wondering what sort of bomb went off on Wednesday’s show…!

      Reply
      1. Travis P

        Alex has put up some clips from Wednesday’s show on his website. He will also upload Friday’s as well over the weekend.

        Reply
  8. mickthemuppet

    I wonder how many “Divided ” have not be shown because they won nothing

    Reply
    1. Brig Bother Post author

      I’d be very surprised they’d drop any, to be honest, but they’re certainly not being shown in the same sequence they were recorded.

      Reply
      1. Travis P

        I think seven teams was left out of the series two recordings. Somebody on Quizzing said they were part of the 30th team but we only saw 23 teams onscreen.

        I remember in the first series there were teams being striked out in rounds 1 and 2 but I’m sure the second series had all the teams going into round 3 at least.

        Reply
  9. mickthemuppet

    Why are all the contestants under 35 and thick . Is this what you have to be to get on the programme

    Reply
    1. Jennifer Turner

      They’re recruited off Twitter, aren’t they?

      Reply
      1. Travis P

        Twitter and Facebook for the build up the show and the online application for this week.

        Reply
    2. Travis P

      They’re not, Antoinette is 36. Although and I will say it again, I’d bet nobody who appear on the show will be aged 40 or more. As they are adapting the same selection process as 24 Hour Quiz.

      Reply
  10. AD

    Having watched it all week so far. I think this show is a spoof. If the contestants win, they don’t get to go on Big Brother or something like that.

    Reply
  11. Jayne

    I think the programme is an introduction to Big Brother. There appears to be no contestant over the age of 40 and that is unusual. There is rumours around that Big Brother will have an audition show on the opening night for contestants to win a place in the house. And we are promised some surprises. I think this show has some link, otherwise with no winners (I haven’t watched Saturday’s show yet) on a show will surely result in a flop.

    Reply
  12. Travis P

    Three reasons why Million Pound Drop is not connect to Big Brother.

    They always select a few people over 40 to enter the house, none were seen on MPD. As I stated, they simply used the same selection process as 24 Hour Quiz.

    They select certian hate figures (and wierdos) for the house, the contestants on MDP were normal.

    Those who are selected are kept in isolation for a good few days and is not allowed to speak to anyone. All the contestants who appeared last week chatted to each other, this was mentioned numerous times on the show.

    If they are indeed the housemates then they have broken their own rules.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.