Monday 3rd sept I was unlucky enough to take part in Sky Ones new game show, “Nothing But The Truth”. Which ironically turned out to be “Nothing But Lies” from start to finish.
Earlier that week I’d received my congratulations call, I was ecstatic, I still knew very little about the actual game play, so asked a few prying questions and still found out very little. I did find out that the game play would be like who wants to be a Millionaire, the money would go up in stages of difficult questions, (up to £50,000, but without the safety net. If you lied you’d loose everything! I was told what members of my family would be able to come, we we’re promised vouchers for a great day out a meal with my family, drinks and a visit from Jerry Springer prior to filming the show.
I called my family guests and told them about the show, I told them about the show, the possibility of embarrassing and cringe worthy questions and sold it to them on meal and meeting Jerry! Not to mention the chance to watch me squirm on TV!
Our day began at 8.45am, The 6 of us excitedly chatted in the car there, and our spirits were high and we we’re ready to go as we arrived at 10.00am. We had a quick cigarette, while we waited to be greeted and shown where to go. And it went all down hill from there!!
We were shown to our family dressing room, Told that the 99.999% chance of me going on the show, had drastically fallen, because contestants were taking longer then expected. Then offered a drink and given the previous day’s menu. We had a laugh; I read stars in the style of “Septic Peg” and annoyed the hell out of everyone. Then I was taken away from my family, I wouldn’t see them again till after the show.
I was taken to a room upstairs, I was there for hours, though I did get the odd visit from runners, and was taken to the toilet and out for a cigarette now and then. I was beginning to doubt I’d even get on the show, when I got the call to go to make-up, ready to film a pre-show section in the green room.
On arrival at the make-up room, I found another contestant hysterical. She hadn’t been on yet but her eyes were swollen from crying. I had been told I shouldn’t meet other contestants, so I walk out of make-up and waited outside. Runners were told to take her back to her dressing room, and to stay with her, “Tell her she beautiful and crap, just calm her down, she can’t go on in that state”.
I was then seated back in make-up, different members of the production team, kept coming in barking orders at the poor make-up lady, she was getting in a flap. She’d not even started me and they wanted me done and Jerry Springer started in 10mins. I told her to take a deep breath everything would be ok, and she smiled. I felt bad for her, she went off and got Jerry done, so she didn’t have to rush me. She came back and spent ages making me look great for my game.
On arrival at the green room, I was given fake wires to make it look like I was hooked up to a polygraph, while a women asked me stupid question like is my top pink, is the sky blue! It was so the audience would think I’d done a lie detector before the show and not nearly a week before.
I had auditioned the previous Monday, I had gone to Ruggie Media offices to be filmed for my audition and gave numbers of family and friends who could tell stories about me, it was my understanding that the show investigates you and asked you question about what they found out. On the journey home I received a call inviting me back the next day to see if the lie detector would work on me.
I returned the following day, I was taken to polygraph room and told about the questions I would be asked. They were to be the questions I would be asked on the show, I still thought I’d do another one backstage and asked if I would. I was told that this was the test that would be used on the show if selected and I would not take another apart from one with a mic after this one, which was a lot of general questions.
It was while I was faking the polygraph that it dawned on me why I had been taken away from my family to keep the illusion going, that I had done a polygraph backstage. The truth was my family already knew I did it the week before; it was pointless to keep me on my own.
Whilst I was off doing this my family remain in their room venturing out for a smoke or fresh air, but they were soon ushered back. They we’re given vouchers to get a meal, when they asked for a menu they were told they had to have sandwiches, as the cook was to busy. My mum put some crisps on her plate and a runner remove them saying she had food in her room.
My family had to sign a contract, my brother asked why she was giving them a £1, was it a retainer and she said she didn’t know. (Though this is the lady who knew to read my contract out on video and given me a £1 retainer fee and stated so at the time of signing). My brother was unsure so advised my family to leave the pounds where she put them and never took them. They asked for time to read the contract and she sighed well go on and pressured them by saying I wouldn’t get on the show if they didn’t sign, they also pressured my sister into sitting on the stage, when I heard she didn’t want to I have asked two people if she could sit in the audience and they promised me they would sort it out for me, Unbeknown to me that meant, telling her if she didn’t go on stage I wouldn’t get a chance to play.
It was getting late gone 4pm, and we were due to leave by 5pm. I began to realise I was probably not going on and several people popped to say the same thing, I was ready to go home, but didn’t want to let my family down. The production team had said to my family that they try would and put me on at 7pm if I didn’t get on by 5pm. If we’d have been together I think we’d have all just said sod let’s go home!
My room was near the control room, I could hear what I think was the producer barking his orders and the other contestant’s games. The second from last contestant was on; he’d done well gotten up to £5,000 and was going for £10,000. I was shocked to hear his next question, see the questions are meant to get harder the more money you’re playing for and £10,000 is still pretty low in £50,000 game. “Have you ever called your mum a slut behind her back?” yes he answered and was deemed to be telling the truth. Next question “have you ever gone to the toilet during sex?” he began to explain that he had stopped himself once but “No” the control room weren’t happy he’d explained so much before answering and the voice in the sky deemed him a liar he lost everything. I can’t believe they weren’t his worse questions, I believe they just brought them forward for shock value as he had no chance of winning.
Next was the turn of the lady I’d witnessed breaking down in the make-up room. I couldn’t believe they were putting her on, she was in a state all day and a runner had said she had a medical mental problem, I didn’t believe she was in any fit state. I knew her going on was pushing us past 5pm and was resolved to just going home and to be honest was feeling quite thankful, then I got called back into make-up the previous contestant had failed to answer a single question. It was my chance to play and possibly win the money to pay for my wedding and IVF.
Having spent hours alone in my room, I had a chance to go over and over my game plan. I needed to answer 6 questions for £1000, then 5 more for 5000, 4 more for £10000, 3 for £25000, 2 for £35000 and 1 more for £50000. Each going up in difficulty/embarrassing. I had written all my questions down straight after the polygraph, I didn’t want to hurt or embarrass my family too much.
I was promised to be taken around the studio to help ease my nerves, but that never happened, I was told not to worry Jerry was great at making people relax. I was taken to the wings ready to walk on in front of a live audience and I haven’t even met Jerry Springer yet. My fist walk on wasn’t good enough and had to be retaken. Jerry was very tired looking, He wasn’t his normal self I’d seen on telly and didn’t have much banter in him at all, coupled with the fact all the retakes and fake family reactions 5minute after they’d found out the answer, he looked pretty fed up. The audience was leaving and gaps had to be filled it was like watching a sinking ship.
Anyway we got into the game, I was doing well and flew to £5,000, despite annoying the production team for answering questions to quickly and not counting slowly to 3, “it wouldn’t look believable if I answered to quickly”. A hours break was called when I said I’d like to continue, and I was returned to my room, told that I would have to go back in make-up 10 mins before, taken I was taken for a smoke and returned. I worked out from my list the questions I’d likely be asked and banked on there being maybe one slightly embarrassing question.
I was not taken back into make up; the make up lady had a quick touch-up backstage. A male member of the production team started flapping, “whose moved Jerry’s questions, there gone” and a women colleague told him “we’re not using them ones, we’re using new ones this is what’s happening now” and began to whisper in his ear, whilst glancing at me. I couldn’t believe it, I was then being pulled towards the stage and a man stepped in front of me on the way and said “he was checking I hadn’t wasted everyone’s time by not continuing after they’d called for a break”. I sheepishly said I wasn’t and walk back on stage, a bit dazed and confused. I sat there while Jerry asked if I still wanted to continue, and I knew if I did, I’d lose everything but still I felt intimidated about wasting everyone’s time. So I played on knowing I’d lose, but what I didn’t expect was the two questions they asked, definitely in my top 4 harsh questions. “Do you think of your sister more of a mother figure then your mum?” yes I answered honestly and it was deemed true. “Is your mum invited to your wedding?” no again true. Next question are you a pushy mum? No I replied, “False” came the voice from the sky and I lost…. I am the least pushy mum you’ll meet, and its not even something I’d thought of until, the lady at my audition had tried to make me say I was a pushy mum and my daughter after the audition had said she saw the lady had written on her notes I was a pushy mum! I just laughed. I knew the question would be asked from my polygraph but had no real concerns, I also knew that the polygraph can say your lying when your not it was a risk I was willing to take, for a chance of getting married.
After losing I had to walk off stage, I was ready to just go but I still go to the green room to film an after show interview and retake my walk of shame again and again and again. The crowd were great, they’d got a new audience for the second half and they got right behind me, in a way I think Jerry did and a lot of the production team. I said at my after interview about them changing the questions and the women went off and came back told me not to worry it’s just something they do sometimes?? One of my questions asked at the interview was “how do you feel?” I said “I feel like honesty is not the best policy”
By this time I’d been there including travel 13.5hrs, without food, despite the fact that I had informed the production team that I took Meteforim for diabetes type 2 and they had to check that the polygraph would work with this medication.
They show itself has little game play; the production team ask me questions based on information I give away at auditions. In other words things the contestants don’t mind admitting too, especially not for £50,000. And not as I was lead to believe in the beginning from getting gossip from ex-bosses, boyfriends and friends and family.
My polygraph test is done before I was even selected for the show. Giving the production a chance to select me based on my results of my polygraph, if no deception was shown; would I have even been selected?
There is no order of questions giving the production team the power of rigging for entertainment and again controlling payouts, contestants are never shown the polygraph to show where they thought it show deception, which means anyone one can be said to be lying or telling the truth at the producers command.
All of this limits gaming as there’s too many variables and is open to manipulation for ratings and budget, I saw nothing to suggest any independent adjudicator or bodies to over see fair play. I am stating only possibilities based on my view of the game and I am not saying that this is what did happen, but more what I see the game open too, as a contestant who was kept very much in the dark.
I don’t care about the money, it’s the whole day!!! I went there to play a game, being played fairly, if my questions where asked in order or difficulty I wouldn’t have got to 5,000. “Are you a pushy mum?” should have been asked in the first two rounds? I’m happy if this just never goes to air I never want to remember it, the whole day left a sour taste in my mouth, like my brother said when a researcher said “well it was an experience” he replied “Next time I want an experience like this, I’ll get arrested, at least then I get a room to myself and a bell for a drink and 3 meals a day”!!!
I have contacted Ruggie Media in regards of the questions being changed and I’m waiting for a reply from Paul Flexton the executive producer of the show.
The whole day has left me wondering if viewers and contestants are being mislead by TV quiz shows as well as the phone ins.
Comments
claire j - 02/11/2007
Monday 3rd sept I was unlucky enough to take part in Sky Ones new game show, “Nothing But The Truth”. Which ironically turned out to be “Nothing But Lies” from start to finish. Earlier that week I’d received my congratulations call, I was ecstatic, I still knew very little about the actual game play, so asked a few prying questions and still found out very little. I did find out that the game play would be like who wants to be a Millionaire, the money would go up in stages of difficult questions, (up to £50,000, but without the safety net. If you lied you’d loose everything! I was told what members of my family would be able to come, we we’re promised vouchers for a great day out a meal with my family, drinks and a visit from Jerry Springer prior to filming the show. I called my family guests and told them about the show, I told them about the show, the possibility of embarrassing and cringe worthy questions and sold it to them on meal and meeting Jerry! Not to mention the chance to watch me squirm on TV! Our day began at 8.45am, The 6 of us excitedly chatted in the car there, and our spirits were high and we we’re ready to go as we arrived at 10.00am. We had a quick cigarette, while we waited to be greeted and shown where to go. And it went all down hill from there!! We were shown to our family dressing room, Told that the 99.999% chance of me going on the show, had drastically fallen, because contestants were taking longer then expected. Then offered a drink and given the previous day’s menu. We had a laugh; I read stars in the style of “Septic Peg” and annoyed the hell out of everyone. Then I was taken away from my family, I wouldn’t see them again till after the show. I was taken to a room upstairs, I was there for hours, though I did get the odd visit from runners, and was taken to the toilet and out for a cigarette now and then. I was beginning to doubt I’d even get on the show, when I got the call to go to make-up, ready to film a pre-show section in the green room. On arrival at the make-up room, I found another contestant hysterical. She hadn’t been on yet but her eyes were swollen from crying. I had been told I shouldn’t meet other contestants, so I walk out of make-up and waited outside. Runners were told to take her back to her dressing room, and to stay with her, “Tell her she beautiful and crap, just calm her down, she can’t go on in that state”. I was then seated back in make-up, different members of the production team, kept coming in barking orders at the poor make-up lady, she was getting in a flap. She’d not even started me and they wanted me done and Jerry Springer started in 10mins. I told her to take a deep breath everything would be ok, and she smiled. I felt bad for her, she went off and got Jerry done, so she didn’t have to rush me. She came back and spent ages making me look great for my game. On arrival at the green room, I was given fake wires to make it look like I was hooked up to a polygraph, while a women asked me stupid question like is my top pink, is the sky blue! It was so the audience would think I’d done a lie detector before the show and not nearly a week before. I had auditioned the previous Monday, I had gone to Ruggie Media offices to be filmed for my audition and gave numbers of family and friends who could tell stories about me, it was my understanding that the show investigates you and asked you question about what they found out. On the journey home I received a call inviting me back the next day to see if the lie detector would work on me. I returned the following day, I was taken to polygraph room and told about the questions I would be asked. They were to be the questions I would be asked on the show, I still thought I’d do another one backstage and asked if I would. I was told that this was the test that would be used on the show if selected and I would not take another apart from one with a mic after this one, which was a lot of general questions. It was while I was faking the polygraph that it dawned on me why I had been taken away from my family to keep the illusion going, that I had done a polygraph backstage. The truth was my family already knew I did it the week before; it was pointless to keep me on my own. Whilst I was off doing this my family remain in their room venturing out for a smoke or fresh air, but they were soon ushered back. They we’re given vouchers to get a meal, when they asked for a menu they were told they had to have sandwiches, as the cook was to busy. My mum put some crisps on her plate and a runner remove them saying she had food in her room. My family had to sign a contract, my brother asked why she was giving them a £1, was it a retainer and she said she didn’t know. (Though this is the lady who knew to read my contract out on video and given me a £1 retainer fee and stated so at the time of signing). My brother was unsure so advised my family to leave the pounds where she put them and never took them. They asked for time to read the contract and she sighed well go on and pressured them by saying I wouldn’t get on the show if they didn’t sign, they also pressured my sister into sitting on the stage, when I heard she didn’t want to I have asked two people if she could sit in the audience and they promised me they would sort it out for me, Unbeknown to me that meant, telling her if she didn’t go on stage I wouldn’t get a chance to play. It was getting late gone 4pm, and we were due to leave by 5pm. I began to realise I was probably not going on and several people popped to say the same thing, I was ready to go home, but didn’t want to let my family down. The production team had said to my family that they try would and put me on at 7pm if I didn’t get on by 5pm. If we’d have been together I think we’d have all just said sod let’s go home! My room was near the control room, I could hear what I think was the producer barking his orders and the other contestant’s games. The second from last contestant was on; he’d done well gotten up to £5,000 and was going for £10,000. I was shocked to hear his next question, see the questions are meant to get harder the more money you’re playing for and £10,000 is still pretty low in £50,000 game. “Have you ever called your mum a slut behind her back?” yes he answered and was deemed to be telling the truth. Next question “have you ever gone to the toilet during sex?” he began to explain that he had stopped himself once but “No” the control room weren’t happy he’d explained so much before answering and the voice in the sky deemed him a liar he lost everything. I can’t believe they weren’t his worse questions, I believe they just brought them forward for shock value as he had no chance of winning. Next was the turn of the lady I’d witnessed breaking down in the make-up room. I couldn’t believe they were putting her on, she was in a state all day and a runner had said she had a medical mental problem, I didn’t believe she was in any fit state. I knew her going on was pushing us past 5pm and was resolved to just going home and to be honest was feeling quite thankful, then I got called back into make-up the previous contestant had failed to answer a single question. It was my chance to play and possibly win the money to pay for my wedding and IVF. Having spent hours alone in my room, I had a chance to go over and over my game plan. I needed to answer 6 questions for £1000, then 5 more for 5000, 4 more for £10000, 3 for £25000, 2 for £35000 and 1 more for £50000. Each going up in difficulty/embarrassing. I had written all my questions down straight after the polygraph, I didn’t want to hurt or embarrass my family too much. I was promised to be taken around the studio to help ease my nerves, but that never happened, I was told not to worry Jerry was great at making people relax. I was taken to the wings ready to walk on in front of a live audience and I haven’t even met Jerry Springer yet. My fist walk on wasn’t good enough and had to be retaken. Jerry was very tired looking, He wasn’t his normal self I’d seen on telly and didn’t have much banter in him at all, coupled with the fact all the retakes and fake family reactions 5minute after they’d found out the answer, he looked pretty fed up. The audience was leaving and gaps had to be filled it was like watching a sinking ship. Anyway we got into the game, I was doing well and flew to £5,000, despite annoying the production team for answering questions to quickly and not counting slowly to 3, “it wouldn’t look believable if I answered to quickly”. A hours break was called when I said I’d like to continue, and I was returned to my room, told that I would have to go back in make-up 10 mins before, taken I was taken for a smoke and returned. I worked out from my list the questions I’d likely be asked and banked on there being maybe one slightly embarrassing question. I was not taken back into make up; the make up lady had a quick touch-up backstage. A male member of the production team started flapping, “whose moved Jerry’s questions, there gone” and a women colleague told him “we’re not using them ones, we’re using new ones this is what’s happening now” and began to whisper in his ear, whilst glancing at me. I couldn’t believe it, I was then being pulled towards the stage and a man stepped in front of me on the way and said “he was checking I hadn’t wasted everyone’s time by not continuing after they’d called for a break”. I sheepishly said I wasn’t and walk back on stage, a bit dazed and confused. I sat there while Jerry asked if I still wanted to continue, and I knew if I did, I’d lose everything but still I felt intimidated about wasting everyone’s time. So I played on knowing I’d lose, but what I didn’t expect was the two questions they asked, definitely in my top 4 harsh questions. “Do you think of your sister more of a mother figure then your mum?” yes I answered honestly and it was deemed true. “Is your mum invited to your wedding?” no again true. Next question are you a pushy mum? No I replied, “False” came the voice from the sky and I lost…. I am the least pushy mum you’ll meet, and its not even something I’d thought of until, the lady at my audition had tried to make me say I was a pushy mum and my daughter after the audition had said she saw the lady had written on her notes I was a pushy mum! I just laughed. I knew the question would be asked from my polygraph but had no real concerns, I also knew that the polygraph can say your lying when your not it was a risk I was willing to take, for a chance of getting married. After losing I had to walk off stage, I was ready to just go but I still go to the green room to film an after show interview and retake my walk of shame again and again and again. The crowd were great, they’d got a new audience for the second half and they got right behind me, in a way I think Jerry did and a lot of the production team. I said at my after interview about them changing the questions and the women went off and came back told me not to worry it’s just something they do sometimes?? One of my questions asked at the interview was “how do you feel?” I said “I feel like honesty is not the best policy” By this time I’d been there including travel 13.5hrs, without food, despite the fact that I had informed the production team that I took Meteforim for diabetes type 2 and they had to check that the polygraph would work with this medication. They show itself has little game play; the production team ask me questions based on information I give away at auditions. In other words things the contestants don’t mind admitting too, especially not for £50,000. And not as I was lead to believe in the beginning from getting gossip from ex-bosses, boyfriends and friends and family. My polygraph test is done before I was even selected for the show. Giving the production a chance to select me based on my results of my polygraph, if no deception was shown; would I have even been selected? There is no order of questions giving the production team the power of rigging for entertainment and again controlling payouts, contestants are never shown the polygraph to show where they thought it show deception, which means anyone one can be said to be lying or telling the truth at the producers command. All of this limits gaming as there’s too many variables and is open to manipulation for ratings and budget, I saw nothing to suggest any independent adjudicator or bodies to over see fair play. I am stating only possibilities based on my view of the game and I am not saying that this is what did happen, but more what I see the game open too, as a contestant who was kept very much in the dark. I don’t care about the money, it’s the whole day!!! I went there to play a game, being played fairly, if my questions where asked in order or difficulty I wouldn’t have got to 5,000. “Are you a pushy mum?” should have been asked in the first two rounds? I’m happy if this just never goes to air I never want to remember it, the whole day left a sour taste in my mouth, like my brother said when a researcher said “well it was an experience” he replied “Next time I want an experience like this, I’ll get arrested, at least then I get a room to myself and a bell for a drink and 3 meals a day”!!! I have contacted Ruggie Media in regards of the questions being changed and I’m waiting for a reply from Paul Flexton the executive producer of the show. The whole day has left me wondering if viewers and contestants are being mislead by TV quiz shows as well as the phone ins.
Monica Patel - 23/11/2007
Poor Claire! I was a contestant on the same Sky One show and I have to say my experience was totally the opposite. What I thought could of been an absolute nightmare turned in to the most rewarding 2 hours of my life. I walked away taking £10,000! My friends and family had a great time. We were all given free taxis to and from the studio, fed and kept happy. Maybe the crew learnt from the first series but I have nothing but praise for everyone on the team. And keep your eyes peeled for the show airing in January!