Complaints as Deal or No Deal returns to ITV today: 'Ofcom, is this allowed?'
If contestant Sian looked familiar, that's because she was!
Deal or No Deal returned to ITV today (March 19), but if you thought the episode looked familiar, that’s because it was…
The second series of Deal Or No Deal came to an end in February. After it ended, Ranvir Singh’s game show Riddiculous took its place in the schedules.
However, today Stephen Mulhern returned to our screens with ‘a new series’ of Deal or No Deal.
Deal or No Deal back in ITV today
Host Stephen Mulhern made a lot of fanfare at the start of the episode about a new set, new players and a new Banker. However, viewers quickly recognised that the episode was anything other than new.
In fact, the episode shown today was as old as ITV could’ve possibly aired. That’s because the broadcaster decided to show a repeat of the very first episode of the rebooted series. It first appeared on screen back in November 2023.
Stephen Mulhern’s very first episode of Deal or No Deal saw Sian win £17,5000 after making a deal with The Banker.
‘Ofcom, is this allowed?’
However, despite her success, complaints soon poured in…
“Why so many repeats? Do viewers complain to @ITV about these repeats? I’ve never seen a programme show this many. @Ofcom, is this allowed?’ asked one angry game show fan.
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Another also spotted that it had been aired previously and said: “ITV, FFS WHY are you repeating Series 1 of DOND AGAIN when you’ve already filmed Series 3?”
The third series of the ITV game show has already been filmed. However, earlier this year, ITV told us that it was too early to reveal when it would launch on ITV. So it seems weekday afternoons will be repeats for the foreseeable future.
Tipping Point, The Chase, Lingo and more also repeats
However, as today’s Tipping Point started, viewers realised they’d also seen those contestants before.
As well as Tipping Point being a repeat episode, today’s Celebrity Catchphrase, Lingo and The Chase have all been shown on ITV before.
Tomorrow afternoon, five hours of game shows air on ITV1. And, in a move that will doubtless infuriate fans, all five episodes will be repeats.
One viewer complained: “Everything on ITV’s afternoon game shows is a repeat. I thought that was the purpose of ITV Quiz? What’s the [bleep]ing point of it?”
Read more: DOND disaster as single mum misses out on huge payday
