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Wendy, you are the Weakest Link... Wendy Styles was a contestant on The Weakest Link. The episode she was in is due to be screened on Wednesday 21st February 2001. She told us what the show is really like... Each episode of The Weakest Link takes three hours to produce, and the BBC produce three shows a day. Wendy was in the second show of the day and arrived at the studios at 9.30am. Most of the team's day is spent in the "green room" - the area you see at the beginning of the show. However, the first part of the day is spent in the wardrobe department, where the crew sort the team's clothing out. "There are a lot of restrictions on colours." Following that is a trip to the make-up room. "When we were not changing or being made up, we chatted to the rest of the team." After changing and being made-up, the team are told the rules of the game [as if they need to be told!] and they play a few dummy rounds - just to make sure they have got it right! Nearly three hours after arriving, the team are taken to the filming studio. "The studio was very dark, so you were not aware of the cameras". They practise their introductions and 'reveals', before "an appearance in black. Yes... Anne Robinson". She briefly talks to the team, asking where they are from. "Unfortunately there was no other general chat with Anne... they have a very tight schedule". Without further delay, they go straight into the game - the part you see on television - or most of it! "There were a few retakes, some down to Anne, some down to contestants." After each round, Anne goes away, to give the team chance to ponder their votes. They have a long time to vote "that is why you see so many artistic drawings". A crew member takes notes of the votes, so that Anne knows who is going. Then Anne comes back, and they do the reveal. Anne does the usual insults. "She constantly picked on the man next to me. He was excellent though, and gave as good back". And then...? The most famous part of the show - the departure of one player. "The walk of shame was fine. It only lasts a second, although you have to film it twice." The post-game interview comes next - "they ask a lot of open questions to get you to speak as much as possible". Contrary to what the BBC wants you to believe, the dispatched players are not thrown into the pit of despair - no, they are taken back to the green room where they watch the rest of the game. Bitterly? No - "I was voted off... quite deservedly. Although I left with nothing, I am delighted to have been selected... I consider myself very fortunate"! It's worth applying then? "I left on a real high. I would certainly reccomend anyone thinking of applying to go for it." Wendy's edition will be shown on
Wednesday 21st February 2001 on BBC2 at 5.15pm (GMT). You can
apply to appear on the show be e-mailing theweakestlink@bbc.co.uk |