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No Deal hints Andrew O’Keefe

Deal or No Deal is "showing signs that it needs rejuvenation" says Andrew O'Keefe, hinting that it may be time to open a new brief case.

The future of Deal or No Deal is looking tenuous after host Andrew O’Keefe gave an interview in which he hints at giving the show away.

“I got into TV because I wanted a creative career. I feel that I’ve taken that creativity as far as it can go within the current formats (game show/current affairs show) that I work in,” he told News Limited.

“I can’t do any more than I am doing (on Seven) for fear of cannibalising one or other of the projects (Deal or Weekend Sunrise) through over-exposure.

“I’m getting to the point where a certain restlessness is setting in, (but) in order to do anything new, I’m going to have to make room by letting something go.”

Deal was always impenetrable by rival Nine with failed attempts to defeat it, including Wheel of Fortune.

But Hot Seat changed the game, now regularly beating the Seven show in the prime 5:30pm slot.

“It is fair to say that Deal, for the first time in its eight-year history, is facing its stiffest competition ever, and showing signs that it needs rejuvenation,” O’Keefe says.

“I am tilling, I think, the same soil nowadays to try to produce prize-winning fruit, which is hard work. It is tiring and taxing and lonely.”

Seven confirmed Deal would return during its September Upfronts, but O’Keefe is signalling that he may not be keen to remain as host.

O’Keefe’s presenting skills can be divisive, but they are diverse, easily switching from game shows to morning television and variety in between.

He even trialled his own late night / comedy format This is Your Laugh on 7HD. Few recall that his earliest TV jobs were in sketch comedy with Hamish and Andy and Chris Lilley.

Recently he was part of the Weekend Sunrise relaunch but today he says the format has its limits.

“Because of that production control, what you present is not necessarily an accurate picture of what you think and who you are,” he says.

27 Responses

  1. I know it is a silly question but has the colours of the deal or no deal board changed recently? I cannot remember the top right hand side of it being pink previously. Me and my husband has been arguing on this point.

    Great show and Andrew is an excellent host!

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