bosses

A long-wondered game show secret has been revealed by a TV insider, ending much speculation.

Ever wondered how some game show contestants win the jackpot and others who deserve it more don’t? Well, this could be the reason why.

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The TV Insider

Gameshow host Richard Osman has finally answered the question about how some shows stop contestants from winning the top prize.

The Pointless and House of Games star revealed that certain questions are given to those taking part in the programme in a bid to keep cash prizes to a minimum.

On his podcast which hosts alongside Marina Hyde, The Rest is Entertainment, the pair often reveal the secret tricks used by the industry to ensure the success of certain shows and films.

Most day-time and evening gameshows have huge cash prizes, which can sometimes reach six or seven figures.

But most of the time, many contestants, despite showing great promise, only end up with a fraction of the maximum amount.

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The secret trick

The 54-year-old said: “The questions wouldn’t be weighted particularly in that way,” he said. He went on to add: “But lots of formats have ways of ensuring there isn’t a payout.”

He added: “So, you’ll do a final round where you could win or you couldn’t win the jackpot.”

He later went on to explain that the cash prize at the end of each round depends on an algorithm for players.

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Richard said: “You always have an algorithm. Daytime budgets are very small, but in your budget will be a line item for prize money.

“So, when we used to make Deal or No Deal, for example ― and it’s a good example, because it’s all about money ― you’ve got that £250,000 box all the way down to the 1p box.”

Simon Cowell’s million-dollar failure

He also explained that there have been many game show failures.

Simon Cowell once launched a game show in the USA

Wanna Bet? was hosted by tele rating’s safe pair of hands, Ant and Dec, and was based on the idea of the gambling game Red or Black.

However, Osman revealed that in the first four episodes in a row, the contestants ended up bagging the total pot – a jaw-dropping $1 million.

The car crash of a show therefore, only lasted six episodes before it was cancelled, becoming one of Ant and Dec’s rare failures.

He then compared this to his former show Pointless, which offers £16,500 per day.

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It means that if one team walks out with the top prize fund, others will suffer in the following games.

Having hosted hundreds of episodes of Pointless since it aired in 2009, Osman knows a thing or two having tv formats.

Osman was also the brains behind some of our favourite entertainment shows such as 8 out of 10 Cats, Have You Been Watching, Only Connect, Total Wipeout, Prize Island, and 10 O’Clock Live.

THE last thing we want to do is cause a panic among Dream Team managers before a ball has been kicked.

But it’s our duty to highlight any discrepancies worthy of discussion as the Gameweek 1 deadline draws near and so we feel compelled to discuss Caoimhin Kelleher (£3m).

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As it stands, the Republic or Ireland international is set to start the 2025/26 season as the most popular goalkeeper in Dream Team.

MOST POPULAR GOALKEEPERS IN DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF GAMEWEEK 1 (% OWNERSHIP)

• 11.6%  Caoimhin Kelleher
• 9.7%  Robert Sanchez
• 9.2%  Matz Sels
• 9%  David Raya
• 8.7%  Alisson

Before we get cynical, let’s be clear that Kelleher is a very fine keeper.

Last season, he performed superbly for Liverpool while Alisson was sidelined with injury for a sustained period from mid-October until Christmas.

Most notably, he saved two penalties in the space of four days against Southampton and Real Madrid to grab the headlines.

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During this time, Kelleher was something of a Dream Team cheat code as he was a cheap starter for the best team in the country and gaffers who took advantage of this situation were rewarded with plentiful points.

In fact, his average of 5.3 points-per-game was among the highest in his position for 2024/25.

This summer, the 26-year-old has transferred from Liverpool to Brentford in a move that will make him No1 for the first time in his career.

Kelleher’s historical record and the promise of increased minutes are the reasons he’s a popular choice among Dream Team bosses, not to mention his affordable price.

However, at the risk of coming across all doom and gloom, there are some issues to be addressed.

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Firstly, a simple truth must be stated: Brentford are not Liverpool.

Clean sheets are the primary currency for keepers in Dream Team but it generally takes a team effort to repel the opposition.

You could have Lev Yashin, Gigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer all between the sticks at once but if they aren’t given suitable protection then it is inevitable they will concede goals.

Last season, Brentford conceded 57 league goals, 16 more than champions Liverpool.

But even that doesn’t tell the full story of the disparity between Kelleher’s old club and his new employers.

The Bees conceded a whopping 646 shots in total, only Southampton gave up more opportunities.

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The xG stats are kinder to the West London outfit, suggesting that six teams defended worse, but Dream Team managers should realise that clean sheets will be much harder for Kelleher to come by at the Gtech.

His predecessor, Mark Flekken, made more saves (159) than any other Dream Team goalkeeper last season, another indication of Brentford’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Of course, racking up lots of saves is another way to earn points – perhaps Kelleher’s best avenue going forward – but it’s difficult to make waves without clean sheets and let’s not forget that conceding goals can lead to minus points.

Another big concern is that Brentford might find life harder in the top flight this campaign.

They have lost Thomas Frank, Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo, with Yoane Wissa also linked to other clubs.

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Keith Andrews has been appointed head coach and has a huge task ahead of him.

Pre-season predictions are often foolish in hindsight but many pundits are envisaging a taxing season for the Bees.

We’re not saying that Kelleher is a horrible selection but, given all the factors, it seems unusual that he’s more popular than all his rivals.

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HOMEWARE giant Wayfair has slashed its UK workforce by more than half in just two years, as it grapples with tumbling sales and a sharp drop in profit.

The US-based furniture retailer, which operates across Britain, cut staff numbers from 847 in 2022 to just 405 by the end of 2024, according to fresh filings with Companies House.

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The dramatic reduction follows a tough period for the business, with UK turnover plunging from £83.4million in 2022 to just £59.4million last year.

Profits also took a hit, with pre-tax earnings slipping from £2.6million to £2.2million over the same period.

Wayfair said it had made a 17 per cent cut to administrative expenses and was now focused on “driving cost efficiency” and “nailing the basics” as it tried to steady the ship.

Despite the ongoing slowdown, bosses remain upbeat about the retailer’s long-term prospects and said the group is working towards maintaining profitability and generating positive free cash flow.

The wider company reported a net revenue of $11.9billion (£8.8billion) globally last year – down $152million (£112million) on the year before.

International sales fell to $1.5billion (£1.1billion), while revenue in its core US market dropped to $10.4billion (£7.7billion).

Wayfair recorded a net loss of $492million (£363million) despite raking in $3.6billion (£2.7billion) in gross profits.

There was some relief in early 2025, as first-quarter results showed a $1billion (£740million) rise in total revenue, thanks to a modest recovery in US sales.

However, international takings continued to fall, dipping by $37million (£27million) to $301million (£223million).

Wayfair isn’t the only retailer feeling the pinch on the high street. Furniture favourite MADE.com collapsed into administration in 2022 after failing to find a buyer, leading to hundreds of job losses.

Habitat also shut down all standalone stores in 2021, moving exclusively online after years of underperformance.

Even major players have been forced to adapt.

Wilko closed its doors for good in 2023 after nearly a century in business, with more than 400 stores shutting and 12,000 staff affected.

Argos has continued to reduce its physical footprint, shutting dozens of standalone shops and moving into parent company Sainsbury’s stores to save costs.

Retail experts say changing consumer habits, rising costs and weaker demand are continuing to batter the home and furniture sector.

Many shoppers have tightened their belts amid soaring bills and higher interest rates, with big-ticket items like sofas and beds often the first to be cut from household budgets.

Wayfair bosses said the company remains “resilient” in the face of economic uncertainty and is pressing ahead with its long-term strategy to streamline operations and stay competitive.

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Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year with pros like Nadiya Bychkova having already begun rehearsals, ahead of the line-up of contestants being announced

A retired rugby union player is reportedly in talks to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. There’s already speculation over who they could be partnered with for the BBC dance contest if they end up taking part in the upcoming series.

The show is set to return later this year and rehearsals underway for the professional dancers. The line-up of contestants for the new series of Strictly has yet to be announced, but there’s been speculation over potential contestants in recent weeks.

Chris Robshaw, 39, who captained England’s national team, is now among those rumoured for the dancefloor when the show returns. Since his retirement from rugby in 2022, he’s already been on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

It’s been teased that Chris would likely be paired up with pro Nadiya Bychkova, 35, if he does Strictly this year. She was announced as one of the returning dancers in April, alongside two new additions to the pro line-up.

Chris, who is married to classical singer Camilla Kerslake, is thought to be almost 6 foot 2 inches tall so there’s speculation that Nadiya would be only pro close to matching his stature, unless he has a same-sex partner for the competition. A source teased to the Sun that Chris, who is reportedly in “advanced talks” for Strictly, and returning pro Nadiya could deliver “sizzling performances” if they are partnered on the show.

The source said: “Chris is likely to be the hunkiest celebrity signing for the 2025 show and if he does get paired with Nadiya will deliver some sizzling performances. But as a former rugby star he’ll also have some big dance shoes to fill as plenty of other players have gone onto Strictly and done remarkably well.”

A number of former rugby players have competed on Strictly since the TV show launched in 2004, with Martin Offiah placing fourth in the first series. Matt Dawson was runner-up in 2006 and Kenny Logan then placed fifth in 2007.

Austin Healey also achieved a top five position when he competed in 2008, having placed fourth. Gavin Henson, who appeared on the show in 2010, and Ben Cohen, who competed in 2013, ended up in fifth and eighth place respectively.

More recently, contestants with a background in rugby haven’t done as well on Strictly though. Thom Evans placed twelfth when he competed in the ballroom back in 2014 and Ugo Monye placed eleventh in the contest in 2021.

The line-up of contestants for the new series has yet to be announced. The BBC however has already confirmed which pros will be returning to the dancefloor, with Nadiya among the dancers coming back for another series.

Nadiya and the other pros have already started rehearsing for the upcoming series. They have posted updates from training on Instagram, including introducing Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, who are the newest pros on the show.

A photo of the group together in a dance studio was shared by Nadiya last night. She wrote in the caption: “Back in the ballroom bubble with the best in the business. Another season, another adventure – and I’m so ready for it.”

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