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| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2>
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010)
The character was called 'The Dealer' in pre-publicity for the show; evidently, the name was changed before recording started (though this may have simply been a mistake as 'Banker' or the local equivalent is used in most other international versions of the show). Channel 4's website referred to him as such though on their listings page until 12 April when after a number of complaints, including an organised campaign by posters to the forum of the website Cook'd and Bomb'd, the text was changed to say The Banker.
In versions of Deal or No Deal around the world, the Banker's offers are usually made purely by computer, or by a dispassionate unseen, unheard figure. However, as Broadcast magazine noted in March 2006, the UK version of the show was the first to exploit the potential for The Banker to be an active character. This direction was then followed by the US, French and Italian versions of the show.
Despite not being seen or heard on screen, this personification led to a high degree of public and media interest in The Banker. The Guardian, in March 2006, called The Banker "a cult character in the making and no mistake" and included him in their hotlist. Television programmes such as Harry Hill's TV Burp, GMTV, Richard & Judy, and Dead Ringers all made jokes about and regularly speculated as to The Banker's real identity in episodes aired between November 2005 through April 2006.
Newsnight mentioned The Banker in July 2006 when discussing the power of charm and spin in politics, an email from a viewer was read out on air - "Even the most dreadful character defect can be forgiven when you are charming and witty - look at the popularity of The Banker on Noel Edmonds's show".
Noel Edmonds himself faced regular questioning on the subject. A typical example being during a webchat on the Channel 4 website,[1] where he said "The Banker is a real person! I am now being asked all the time whether there is somebody on the phone and I've been accused of pretending that I'm talking to nobody. The truth is that The Banker is a very dry, extremely astute number cruncher. He watches the player very closely and obviously wants them to go away with as little money as possible. He is not somebody I would wish to socialise with."
[edit] Tags:Verification,Original Research,Deal Or No Deal (uk Game Show),Antagonist,Deal Or No Deal,Noel Edmonds,Bakelite,Reliable Sources,Challenged,The Guardian,Harry Hill's Tv Burp,Gmtv,Richard & Judy,Dead Ringers,Newsnight,Verifying,References,The Manchester Evening News,The Daily Mirror,Coronation Street,The Mole,Glenn Hugill,Richard Osman,Heat Magazine,David J. Bodycombe,Heat,The Radio Times,Tv Times,Sky Digital Magazine,Munich Olympics,University Challenge,Jeremy Paxman,Dentist,Trump,Christmas Day,New Year's Eve,White Flag,Sign Language,Poster, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Identity | 2>
This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (January 2010)
Speculation as to the Banker's real identity reached its peak in April 2006 when a flurry of reports appeared in the National press. The Manchester Evening News and The Daily Mirror even teased the revelations on the front pages of their editions on Monday 3 April 2006. Under the headline "Corrie Cop is Noel's Banker" these stories suggested that the Banker was really ex Coronation Street actor and former UK host of The Mole, Glenn Hugill[2]
The Mirror went on to claim that as Series Producer of the show, the offers were calculated by Hugill, in discussion with his two executive producers Richard Hague and Richard Osman, but that Hugill made the final decision and that it was he who spoke to Noel and the contestants via the telephone. In these articles Hugill's age was reported to be 41, whereas he was in fact born in 1970 and was 36 at the time of writing.[3] This has led some to question the article and to question whether someone of that age could convince so many contestants he was much older.
Noel Edmonds, who had been facing questions about the Banker's identity for months, now faced questions about Glenn Hugill but he insisted in Heat magazine in July 2006 that Hugill is indeed in charge of the production but the Banker is a separate entity. Glenn Hugill himself, whilst neither confirming or denying that he is indeed the Banker, continues in interviews to refer to the Banker in the third person and insists the Banker acts entirely alone.[3]
In May 2008 The Banker celebrated with a special week of "Banker's Birthday" shows were aired from Monday 12 May onwards. However Hugill's birthday is 8 February.
In the entry for Deal Or No Deal on the UKGameshows.com website [1] (run by David J. Bodycombe, a long-time friend of Hugill's), the link for "The Banker" redirects to the entry for Glenn Hugill. The Deal or No Deal article also seems to imply that the Banker is a producer of the programme. Whilst not explicitly stating that the producer in question is Hugill, it could be interpreted as semi-official confirmation that he is.
In the late part of 2006 and early part of 2007 the Banker had gained sufficient celebrity status in his own right to be interviewed by various newspapers and magazines, including Heat, The Radio Times and TV Times. These interviews were all characterized by outrageous flirting by the Banker with his female interviewer.
As the show progresses, so the Banker has provided more and more information of his private life, both in interviews and on screen, building up a complex character for a person that no-one has ever seen.
[edit] | Tags: Profile | 2>
This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (January 2010)
The Banker's birthday is 12 May. Noel Edmonds frequently describes The Banker as an older man, who is overweight and has little hair. In various episodes the Banker has been said to speak fluent French and Russian.
According to the Deal or No Deal behind the scenes book, the Banker weighed 12 pounds at birth and "when the midwife slapped me on the back, I in return, elbowed her in the throat.[4]
The Banker has made several references to his mother, and also to his estranged son, who he never speaks to on account of his being a charity worker. The Banker regularly mentions that he has had six previous wives, with the position of Mrs. Banker number seven being currently vacant.
The Banker has also been portrayed as a keen swimmer. In the Oct/Nov 2008 issue of the Sky Digital Magazine he revealed in an interview, in character, that he has three gold swimming badges. He claimed to have the nickname 'The Wet Rocket' and that he nearly competed in the Munich Olympics in 1972.
On 16 November 2006 Noel Edmonds turned on Exeter's Christmas lights. He revealed that the banker used to study "Financial affairs and Politics" at Exeter University and suggested that students could find his identity by looking at the records.[5] This "fact" was mentioned during an episode of University Challenge on 17 September 2007 when Jeremy Paxman introduced Exeter University and named The Banker as one of the institution's famous alumni.
In the Oct/Nov 2008 edition of the Sky Digital Magazine, an interview with The Banker was published. It was revealed that The Banker has an MSc in financial analysis and fund management, BSc in pure mathematics, statistics and mathematical sciences and a Masters in behavioural and biological psychology. He also stated that he was a registered dentist.
On 13 March 2009, the Banker was fired after having given away £250,000 to Alice in the previous show. As a result, a new Banker called Jeff Trump took the old Banker's place. However, at the fourth offer of the game, it was announced that Jeff had been fired for being rude to Noel and so the old Banker was given his job back.
[edit] | Tags: Visual appearances | 3>
On Christmas Day 2006, at the end of the show, a brief clip of The Banker was shown. A man in a suit and hat was switching off his television after watching the contestants sing Christmas carols. The Banker then took out a mint humbug from a jar and grunted to himself. This clip was only from the back of The Banker, so little could be told from his appearance. However, he seemed to be old and overweight. On his desk was a photograph of his two boxer dogs, which he had previously revealed in three different shows to be called 'Scrooge' and 'Marley'. In the back of the shot appeared to be a picture with the words 'This is not a charity you know' embroidered on it. The Banker had previously mentioned to contestant Joseph, who originated it, that he would have the phrase mounted on his wall.
At the end of the New Year's Eve 2007 show, the Banker made another appearance. He was shown relaxing at a beach, sitting on a deck chair dressed in swimming trunks, whilst being given a massage by former contestants, Jean and Orry. Once again, only his back was shown.
On 21 January 2008, Deal or No Deal featured its first ever entirely deaf contestant. In response, the Banker, when defeated by the £30,000 winning contestant, was shown on the screen in the studio. His torso, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, was visible, as were his arms waving a white flag, suggesting he was surrendering to his triumphant opponent. He had also previously issued a video message, in a similar format, where he quipped, in sign language, that Edmonds wore a wig. It should be noticed that he had a significantly different appearance in these video messages: the Banker appeared to have a slim to average build. This may indicate that an actor portrayed the Banker in his previous appearances.
On 26 November 2010, the Banker made another brief appearance. His well-dressed arm (complete with shiny red "B" cufflink) was seen reaching to grab a slice of birthday cake from the player's table during a sketch at the end of the show's 5th birthday celebrations, and could be heard saying "Mmmmm... cake!"
On 13 May 2011, the Banker's hands were seen with his fists clenched tightly after the end credits, having just completed a WANTED poster with the name Suzanne on it. Suzzane had achieved the "dream finish" (100,000 and £250,000 remaining in live play) and became the third £250,000 winner. On 20 October 2011, he said he was going to appear in person to make his offer. However, when he came out it looked like he was hiding under a cloak, until Amanda, a woman from the audience unvealed him to see a man called Alex. The Banker then revealed it was just a fake, and that Amanda and Alex knew each other.
[edit] | Tags: Voice | 2>
On several occasions the Banker's voice can be heard. He has been heard laughing manically, blowing kisses and imitating Basil Brush. Contestants have described his voice as sounding like 'a dirty phone call', old and sexy, rather like well spoken deep voiced fellow contestant Lance and 'the Scream man'. Edmonds has often imitated the Banker's voice in a deep Churchillian tone.
On a few occasions, The Banker's voice has been heard. During one episode, the Banker is heard to shout "NO DEAL!" down the phone in response to a comment from a contestant (Clive the farmer). Then the line "Nine thousand, Five hundred and one pound, that's all you're getting." is audible. There have been other occasions where short utterances can be heard from the Banker. On one occasion, the song "Celebration" could be heard being played by the Banker.
The Banker has also been heard singing on occasions: he sung Showaddywaddy's 'Under The Moon of Love', a Dolly Parton song, "Agadoo" and also Stevie Wonder's"I Just Called to Say I Love You"
The Banker's voice was heard properly for the first time on 22 September 2010 during Ian's game. In a twist to how boxes are usually chosen, Ian offered the Banker the opportunity of choosing his next three boxes. The Banker accepted the offer and rather than talking to Noel over the phone, his deep, gravelly voice was heard making his choices through the studio speakers, selecting boxes 1, 13 and 22. He then told Noel in his next phone call that he had thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
[edit] | Tags: Personality | 2>
This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (January 2010)
The Banker's personality is one of the most essential components of the show, and on many occasions has generated good or bad offers, gifts and surprises. Such surprises have included early box swaps, chances to double offers, offer increases, offer decreases and additional gifts. On some shows, The Banker has offered things such as a copy of the rules, 2 weeks of therapy, the book How to Make Friends and Influence People, a loofa and "a train ticket back to wherever you came from". On other occasions, he has been kind, by offering substantially high offers, chances to double offers and offer increases. On 15 April 2006 The Banker doubled contestants Gabrielle's and Savvas' winnings, after they both revealed they would be donating the money to charity. The Banker has also been cruel, by only offering box swaps, substantially low offers, decreasing offers and threats to other contestants. On some occasions, The Banker has given poems and gifts to the chosen contestant. These gifts have included a bottle of bubble bath, a mini replica of a Deal or No Deal box, a bunch of roses, a Deal or No Deal mug and champagne.
On 30 May 2008, for the first time ever, the banker let the contestant make up her own offers. It seemed she could make up a ridiculously high amount, but the banker then informed her that if she suggested an unreasonable offer, he would only offer her the swap at the end. On one of the last rounds, she suggested an offer of an amount around £7,000, after a lot of discussion with the other contestants. The Banker replied 'No deal!', and told her the highest he'd go up to was £4,500, leaving her to go through the rest of the game with no life lines and only a swap at the end.
Normally The Banker is listed in credits as played by himself, but on April Fools Day 2006 the listing was 'Richard Oldman', a play on 'Rich (H)ard Old Man. On April Fools' Day 2007, he was listed as 'Titus Aduxas' (a play on 'tight as a duck's arse').
On 12 December 2006, during the Royal Variety Performance shown on BBC One, Noel Edmonds was asked to introduce Rod Stewart to the stage. During Edmonds' time on stage, he went to answer a ringing telephone, and referred to the caller as Mr. Banker. The Banker stated that he was in the same room as Noel, at which point he turned around to face Prince Charles in the royal box and said "You definitely have the bigger box."
Regular on screen mentions have also disclosed the names of the Banker's entourage. He has a butler named Pennyworth. Interestingly Pennyworth is also the surname of Alfred, butler to Bruce Wayne; alias Batman. He has a masseur and personal trainer named Andre, who he has often referred to as having 'magic hands'. He also has a driver named Harrison and according to the Deal or No Deal behind the scenes book he also may have a cook but he "can't swear to it as [he has] never been in [his] kitchen."
[edit] | Tags: References | 2>
^ channel4.com
^ "Ex-Corrie star outed as No Deal banker". The Manchester Evening News. 2006-04-05. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/209/209993_excorrie_star_outed_as_no_deal_banker.html. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
^ a b A Man Walks Into a Bar... Glenn Hugill
^ Edmonds, N., Deal or No Deal. Published 2006, Ebury Press.
^ "Feel or no feel". Exeposé. 2006-11-20. http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/newspaper/pdf/2006-11-20.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
[edit] | Tags: External links | 2>
Official Banker on Twitter
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