Hosted by EastEnders star Danny Dyer, The Wall is the ultimate combination of strategy, knowledge and luck and will see the questions voiced by TV legend, Angela Rippon.

Wildly unpredictable with heart stopping jeopardy, The Wall gives and The Wall takes away. Expect colossal wins and heart-breaking losses, this game show really can change people’s lives in an instant.

In this game, pairs need the right answers, the right bounces and cast-iron trust in each other to win a life-changing cash prize.

The Wall, an original format created by the SpringHill Company and Andrew Glassman’s Glassman Media in collaboration with Universal Television Alternative Studio, was first shown in America on NBC in 2016. The most travelled format of 2017 and 2018, The Wall is an international hit and has sold to 24 territories around the globe.

The Wall is produced by Remarkable TV (part of Banijay UK). It has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer and Kate Phillips, Controller, Entertainment. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown. The Executive Producer for Remarkable is Richard Hague. The Series Producer is Stephen Lovelock.

Interview with Danny Dyer

How is it to be filming another series?

It’s incredible actually. It’s incredible we’ve moved our set from Poland to Wembley Arena. I feel very, very grateful to be a host of such a unique game. There’s been so much uncertainty and like many, many industries, I’m part of an industry that’s being crushed by this Covid thing, so I’m very grateful to be back.

How is it to be filming in these current times? Has anything changed on set?

I’m getting used to the social distancing thing now, but I don’t like it. I think that The Wall is ideal for it because it’s all about The Wall. It’s such a good game and there is so much at stake. There are so many different layers to it which make it a good formula. The game brings tension, jeopardy and all the things you need. I think we’re getting used to it, and this is the way our businesses are having to be run now. It works and I think everyone who was working on it was very, very grateful to be there. Nothing’s really changed, but everyone not on camera wears masks, it’s a very well-run show.

What can we expect from this series?

What we’ve learnt is that lockdown has definitely done something to the contestants. They’re making some very, very strange decisions but it’s great because it makes for a very, very exciting show. You’ll see when they start airing the shows, the level of want because of the uncertainty and the fact people have been laid off, the redundancies, so this is an opportunity to have some fun but also generate some money for their families. It makes for great telly.

Do you have any advice for contestants?

I always say the same thing to each contestant which is just be you because everyone else is taken. I’m completely rooting for the contestants always, I’m with them and want them to win as much money as possible.

What makes this show so different to others?

I think it’s all about the game. It’s such an interesting game and there’s so many elements which make it exciting. And there isn’t one episode which isn’t exciting, whether it’s a winner or a loser there’s always drama. It’s real people’s emotions, it’s real drama.
Interview with Angela Rippon

How is it to be taking part in another series of The Wall?

Well it’s fantastic because we only had six programmes last year, but after just those six programmes I was meeting people in the street saying, “I love that new programme, there’s so much tension”. They really got involved and loved it. Not just for the general knowledge content but for the tension it created. I’m absolutely thrilled it’s caught the public’s imagination and they love it. It’s lovely to be doing something that is so successful and people enjoy.

What’s your favourite thing about The Wall?

I think what I love about it, particularly in this new series, is the dynamic between the contestants and Danny and the human stories that are coming out. Some of the stories we are hearing are absolutely amazing. So, get your tissues ready because some of the stories are so emotional.

That’s another layer to the programme, it’s not just, “Do you know the answer to these questions?” It’s people at home trying to work out the answers and wanting The Wall to be kind and watch how the money builds or is taken away. All your money can be gone just like that. So there’s all that jeopardy and in addition but it’s the raw human emotions that I think really, really get to people.

Do you have any advice for the contestants?

I suppose the only advice I can really suggest is knowing the person you’re playing really well, and know how each of you may think and feel. I suppose that’s the most important thing because there’s that final jeopardy at the end when you’re given the opportunity of either signing the contract or tearing it up. You have to really know what each other thinks about that moment in that programme. You could tear the contract up and throw away a lot of money, or sign it and have nothing. So, it’s really making sure that the two of you have that synergy and level of understanding and love of each other that whatever decision you make, it’s right for both of you.

How does The Wall compare to other game shows?

It’s got so many layers. It’s not just a general knowledge quiz, it’s not just a game of chance. You decide where you place the balls but you have no control whatsoever. There’s that jeopardy. There’s the understanding and trust between each other as contestants and the rapport that Danny builds. I do think he’s brilliant with the contestants. He’s absolutely terrific at putting them at ease and making them feel like this is going to be fun and that whatever the outcome it’s going to be brilliant for both of them. So you’ve got that dynamic as well. Then you’ve got that emotional rollercoaster. How much money have they won? What’s their story? What do they want to do with it? What’s the link between the two people? There’s so much emotion in this. But then there is an emotional element built into practically every part of the programme.

Do you have a favourite game or quiz show of all time?

I’ve always loved University Challenge and Mastermind. I sit there in awe of the people doing it and the extraordinary knowledge they have.
Show format

In each show one pair take on The Wall in three rounds that are the ultimate combination of strategy, knowledge and luck.

PROGAMME FORMAT - Freefall (Round One)

A pair of contestants start out playing together for fast cash in freefall. A multiple-choice question with two possible answers is asked as three balls fly down The Wall. The balls fall randomly towards slots of varying cash amounts. The players have until one ball has reached the money to lock in their answer. If they’re correct, the balls turn green and money is added to their prize pot. However, answer a question incorrectly and the ball turns red, deducting the amounts of the slots they land in. There are five questions in freefall and the only rule is that players must finish the round with cash to progress.

Round Two

The money slots have larger cash amount added. The pair of contestants separate. One goes into isolation, the other stays with the host. The player gets two free green balls to try and accumulate cash. But whichever slots they drop from at the end of the round, two red balls will also have to drop the same slots. The players then face three questions. The player in isolation, under intense pressure, will answer the questions whilst their partner takes risks on The Wall.

For each question, the player in front of The Wall is shown three possible answers, before deciding which slots to place the balls, based on whether they think their partner is going to answer the question correctly or not. The more confident they are, they should place them to the right - closer to the higher amounts. The less confident they are, they place them to the left - nearer the smaller amounts. If the Isolation Player is correct the ball turns green, if they’re wrong, the ball turns red - but the Isolation Player never knows if they’ve answered correctly. For questions two and three, The Wall player has the chance to double up and then triple up - players make this decision after seeing the possible answers to the question and must decide based on their confidence in the Isolation Player. The balls are all played on the same number. At the end of the round, The Wall player must drop the two red balls from the same number as the free green balls at the top of the round. These will subtract the amount of whatever they land in.

Round Three

The money slots have larger cash amount added. Round two works in a similar way to the previous round but this time players get three free green balls to drop, in order to try and maximise their cash winnings. But whichever slots they drop the balls from they will have to drop three red balls from the same slots at the end of the round. The players face three more questions, this time with four possible answers. As before, the player in isolation will answer the questions while their partner takes risks on The Wall. Again, for questions two and three, The Wall player has the chance to double up and then triple up; players make this decision after seeing the possible answers to the question and must decide based on their confidence in the Isolation Player.

The Contract

In the final round before the final three red balls are dropped, the Isolation Player is sent the contract. If the Isolation Player signs it, the pair take home the sum that was banked in the freefall round, plus a cash amount for every correct answer they gave over the course of the game - this is the guarantee. However, they’re in isolation so they don’t know how well (or badly) they’ve played and what the final value of the guarantee is. If the Isolation Player tears it up, they take the risk that their partner has been more successful and they will take home whatever is left on The Wall. If there’s any money left in play on the wall, the player must drop the three red balls from the same number as the free green balls at the top of the round. These will subtract the amount of whatever they land in.

The players are reunited at the end of the game and the Isolation Player explains how and why they came to their decision. Their partner then tells them what was on The Wall and they either celebrate or commiserate - depending on whether the Isolation Player made the right decision to take the most out of the game.