Season 1
Deal or No Deal is a South African version of the international television game show created by John de Mol for Endemol Netherlands in which the core idea in all countries is the same: one contestant in a high thrills face-off with mystery suitcases in a bid to become a millionaire.
The series features one contestant, one host, a banker and a battalion of suitcases each containing a different amount of money between 1 cent and 1 million rand.
The Game
The money suitcases are brought on set and opened by a bevy of gorgeous leggy models. To start the game, the contestant must pick a suitcase in which he or she hopes to reveal the million bucks - a one in 26 chance. This suitcase is potentially the contestant's prize, i.e., what they can take home … if, of course, they do not take the deal.
Then the game of choice begins: the contestant must open the remaining 25 suitcases one at a time. The suitcases are opened and the amounts revealed are struck from a big screen money grid, bringing us ever closer to knowing what amount is held in the contestant's case. But there's a catch.
The Banker can buy back the contestant's case, based on what amounts are left in play and on what the banker feels the case is worth. So at predetermined intervals the contestant is given a bank offer.
The contestant now decides whether it is a "Deal!" or "No Deal" - to take the bank offer or to continue opening cases.
If the contestant decides not to take the deal and he or she opens low value cases, then the next bank offer is likely to be higher (and visa versa). But the banker may also decide to be risky.
The game continues in this way until the contestant takes a deal OR he/she opens the last case. In taking the deal the contestant goes home with the money offered. In playing to the last case, the contestant takes home what is in their case, be it 1 cent or 1 million rand.
The Risk
When the chips are down it's all about making the right decision and how much you can risk. Can the contestant call the banker's bluff? Can he or she keep their cool and sail through the rounds? Will the contestant dissolve into a heap of nerves and strike a deal? … or will they play on and end up with nothing?!