The Wheel

I thought the same, watching a huge win at the same time as my local BBC radio station is running what appears to be a completely no-frills (and, as a listener, extremely dull) service compared to what was on the air there a year ago. The final question seems to be a fairly easy one, the chance of all three contestants walking away with nothing is fairly slim (although it did happen last week).

One thing I think they could streamline a bit is the explanation of the final round - the 'reveal' of the celebrity rankings is a bit drawn out, and the explanation of how they take away all but the strongest, middle and weakest players, and then explain how the prize money changes depending who they choose, is interminable - it's not a complex concept. Hopefully with a second series, things like this will be more familiar to the audience and they could be shortened a little.

The no win happened twice

Are people seriously suggesting that The Wheel give out meagre money to the winners. It's not the 1980s where people got a washing machine or a chequebook and pen.

I think people are just saying they’ve gone from one extreme to the other.

From the low amounts you may win on Pointless to ridiculously massive amounts that you’d struggle to win on Millionaire.

The amounts you get on Pointless already look low compared to commercial TV, for obvious reasons, but then the BBC are making themselves look low themselves by doing this

The 76k jackpot in episode 1 was ridiculous, it’ll probably be one of the biggest amounts given away on TV all year.

I understand the arguments about the prize money funding local journalists but we need to understand it’s not as if there is one pot of money and BBC Local Radio could have some of that if The Wheel only gave away 10 grand per show, it would still be going on entertainment programming. I disagree with what others say, as there is entertainment in peoples lives being changed, that said 10 grand could be live changing money for some.

I also think this production is probably cheaper that of the Big Show, which it probably has the same budget as.

Donald Fear won a million pounds on WWTBAM two months earlier so it's not quite true that it was the biggest amount given away.

It’s not even the biggest amount given away by the BBC all year.

I think you're more successfully making the argument that I need to direct my surprise/disappointment/anger towards The Wall as well, rather than arguing that The Wheel giving away 500 households' license fees to one person is not so bad.

Although with The Wall the amounts played for are integral to the drama.

The thing is gameshows are an easy target, I’m sure there are expenses in every production that some could consider questionable, it’s just gameshows where it’s the most apparent.

I think if we started breaking down cost for things, nothing would get made!

The Wheel would go from The Wheel for starters. And then The Wall from The Wall.

You give a set amount of money for 6 X 60" - its up to the prod company how its spent.
Its a very expensive set and decent prizes so I would imagine Mr Mac's company has broken even to get it recommissioned and produced.