Countries

South Africa

South Africa is only the second African country to get its own version of the show after Tunisia. The show, in English, is very similar to the US show. In the first episode, the contestant won a massive R255,000 (South African Rands) when the two remaining cases contained R500,000 and R1,000. That’s about £18,000.

Popular radio personality and musician Ed Jordan is the host of Deal or No Deal, airing on M-Net Series on Fridays at 23:00.The show - which is currently produced in more than 50 countries across the globe - promises to take South Africa by storm, as it has done all over the world, from the Netherlands to Australia, Japan, India, Hong Kong and the US. In the modernised version of 'Pick a Box', contestants can win up to one million Rand in each episode - that's if they choose the right suitcases, presented by 26 gorgeous models, and if they manage to call the banker's bluff. The banker will offer them a sum of money that may or may not be higher than the sum of money hidden inside the suitcase they have picked.

The host plays a very important role in Deal or No Deal. He has to be witty and charming and at the same time he needs to put pressure on the contestants to make a decision that could have huge financial implications. He's also the one who has to convey the mysterious banker's messages to the contestants and keep the audience and contestants' family members under control.

M-Net's Head of Original Productions, Carl Fischer, believes Ed Jordan will work fantastically on the show. 'Ed thinks well on his feet and is a great entertainer. We expect audiences, as well as contestants and models, to love him. His experiences as an entertainer on various platforms, including television, will come in handy for this brilliant television game show.'

Ed is currently part of radio station Kaya fm's breakfast team and has appeared in television shows like Big City and Super Saturday. He's also a SAMA award-winning singer-songwriter who has supported Crowded House, Hootie and the Blowfish and Bryan Ferry on their South African tours; he's also performed solo across Southern Africa and in Taiwan.

Ed looked forward to the show's start, explaining that, 'The relationship between the host and the contestant is so direct and personal, and the contestants are also allowed to bring in close family members and friends to help them make a decision, so there's great personal interaction as the tension builds. That's right up my alley! And, of course, working with 26 leggy models isn't a punishment either!'