Just found on the official DOND site a new section where the Banker will answer your questions and has indeed already answered a couple.

Q1. How does the banker make his offers?

Hi Jason. It's my pleasure to answer one question from loyal fans such as yourself. No problem at all. The answer is, I trust my instinct. I look at the board, the player and my wallet and decide which is in most danger. No computers; just gut feelings. I have powerful guts. Nice talking to you Jason!

What does he do when not filming Deal or No Deal?
I said one question Jason, you moron. That's two. So mind your own damned business.

Q2. Out of all the Deal or No Deal games you’ve been in, which is your all time favourite and why?

Ah, Dan... you've made me take a delightful trip down memory lane... The sixteen 1p winners come high on my list of course... But also there's the people who dealt too early and missed out on fortunes, who then sob in bewilderment as they see their games unravel before their eyes like cheap corduroy. The truth is, my favourite of all time is on screen very, very soon... the player in question has such a disaster, he gets his own wing in the hall of fame. How the pilgrims wept. It was hilarious.

Link - http://www.dealornodeal.co.uk/news/newsstory/?scid=114
email The Banker - TheBanker@endemoluk.com

Be interesting to see what questions get answered from the Banker.

I asked him a question about what he'd really offer on a 1p/£250k finale in play nowadays.

Ooh, I see it references Derek's game.

I doubt Endemol will answer mine.

More questions have been answered, and i think yours has Aaron

The Banker has been extremely busy with his piles (of money that is), but has taken time out especially for you.

From Vera:
Why do you make different offers to people who have the same amounts left on their board, some are very low offers and others quite high?

Hello Vera. The answer is simple. Have you ever played the game where you ask someone how much money it would take for them to do something they wouldn't normally do? People will have very different "breaking points" when it becomes too much money to say no.

Similarly, I always try to buy the box for as little as possible; so given that people are very, very different, the amount I think will make one person break could vary wildly from another - even if their boards are identical. It's up to the player to convince me that only a high offer will break them if they are looking to make a deal. It's up to me to read them accurately so as not to waste my cash. For instance for you, Vera, I would make a statistically fair but not unnecessarily high offer since I think your question reveals that you are a person who believes in balance and reason. I also think you might be rather saucy.

From Eileen:
Do you ever see the contestants before the game without them knowing?

Ah Eileen. Indeed. Indeed I do. I like to watch. I have a number of disguises. In fact I met you once Eileen. Do you remember a lovely cafe where a slightly rotund but still handsome stranger offered to buy you a pot of Earl Grey? Then he upset you when he refused to tip the waitress? Yes, Eileen... I was that waitress.

From Aaron:
Hello Banker. I've seen your offers where players have been left with 1p and £75,000 and you simply offered a swap, and in a woman called Woodsy's game you offered £18,000 with a low blue and a £100,000. Now, the woman who lost out on the most money, Debbie back in 2006 was left with 1p and £250,000 in prove out stages, and you said you would offer £60,000. But then in Laura's game, you only offered £45,000 even with a low red back-up of £3,000. I would like to know, what you would do if someone was in play with 1p and £250,000. Would you just offer a swap, or a low cash offer? What would you do?

That's Mr. Banker to you, mush. Rephrase your question politely and I might address it. Also, try not to ramble. It's not seemly.

From Travis:
If you were to invite three people to a dinner party, who would they be and why invite them?

Easy. The Sugababes. I let you work out why, Travis.

FREAKING HELL!!! YES!!

But what the hell am I meant to answer that with?

How rude, he just stole his answer to Eileen's question from Black Adder II. What utter cheek.

So basically he avoided the question about 1p vs £250,000. Perhaps you should ask again.

I might ask a question now and see if it gets a reply.

Simple, cut out all the rambling rubbish you were saying at the start of your question and state the obvivous. I doubt he will give you an exact answer to your question though. I won't be surprised if he uses the same answer as Vera's.

Nice to see him answer my question. Sugarbabes eh?

The Banker has answered some more questions (which seem to be getting more strange) in his usual sarcastic style.

From Taz Claydon:
Can I ask you please what is the best shoe you have ever had?

Hello Taz. You know, when I agreed to answer questions from fans I can honestly say I didn't prepare myself for this moment. The moment I would face a question so probing, so incisive, that it would cut deep into the very heart of me...

"What is the best shoe I have ever had?"...
Not worn. Not owned. Had.

Wow Taz. I don't know how to answer that question. I really, really don't. So I'm going to make an answer up because I'm concerned not giving you one might make you forget to take your medication. So Taz, the best shoe I ever had was a left foot, cream coloured, six hole oxford brogue that magically improved my typing skills so that I didn't type an "e" when I meant to type a "w". So, for example, I never once typed "shoe" when I meant to type "show".

Taz, may I suggest you get such a shoe.

From Lucy:
How much money do you really have and earn?

Loads.

And are you as nasty and mean at home and towards your family as you are to the contestants and Noel Edmonds on Deal or No Deal?

Yes.

Are you mean?

Yes.

How many holidays do you get in a year since the show?

One.

Bye Lucy.

From Pat:
Hi banker its nice to speak to you, love the game and watch every night but i wonder if you could answer a question for me by the way my name is pat and im on my husbands website so dont think it's him writing this. In 1973 i married a noel edmonds lookalike everybody mistook dave my husband for noel now however noel still looks just as good why does my hubby look more like freddie boswell from the liverbirds? I suppose like deal or no deal thats the chance you take i still love him anyway and wouldn’t change a thing. bye for now. best wishes pat.

Hello Pat, It's nice to speak to you too. I'm going to use capital letters in my reply, I do hope that won't distress you.

What a touching picture you paint. I'm devastated that the handsome man you married now looks like an eighties sit-com character. I think it's very selfish of Noel to remain handsome when you're now stuck with an old tramp like Dave. It must feel as if Noel's twinkling blue eyes and perfect beard are mocking you each day at 4:15. Horrifying. So let me say this: Freddie Boswell had his Lilo Lil but your Dave is still right there beside you. Loyal and true. So fear not, Pat; I think you picked the right box.

Besides Dave has a website; Noel doesn't.

The reply to Pat about captial letters made me laugh and his hope that it won't destress her .

I'm sorry but


Who dares me to ask him for a deal or no deal mug?

Not an official ask the Banker a question, but the newest Radio Times asked the Banker about his birthday coming up next week.
-------------------------------------
As DOND celebrates the Banker's birthday this week, you might expect the man on the other end of the phone to Noel Edmonds to be a bit more generous than usual.

RadioTimes: So, how many candles this year?
Banker: None. I stopped having candles when it became impossible to approach the cake without wearing a protective suit.

RadioTimes: Are you feeling generous? Might somebody be in line for a birthday bonus?
Banker: Yes, some players could get lucky. Very, very lucky. But they won't. I'll see to that.

They really are making quite a big deal (pardon the pun) about the banker's birthday this year aren't they! I don't think it's been a big issue really in previous years, apart from the odd mention here and there, and this week we're getting a whole week of shows surrounding around it, and it's even mentioned in the Radio Times!

Looking through another TV guide today I came across another interview with the Banker, this time in Total TV. The Banker certainly is advertising his birthday this year.

Just to let you know, the second question reveals a little twist that is going to happen in the birthday week shows. It's nothing major but if you'd rather not know anything about the birthday week shows then you might want to skip it.

Total TV: Happy birthday, Banker. How old are you exactly?
Banker: What an impertinent question. Not too old to give you a thick ear, that's for sure.

[SLIGHT SPOILER]
Total TV: This week the contestants are opening birthday cards and if there's a book token inside you have to offer them extra money. How do you feel about that?
Banker: It's all about risk. If they find the token I'm in trouble, but if they fail, well then I get to see their dreams die in their eyes. And then I laugh right in their faces. Excellent fun.
[END SPOILER]

Total TV: What's the nastiest thing you've ever said to a contestant?
Banker: I'm never nasty to contestants. It's scarcely my fault if they're a bunch of layabout simpletons.

Total TV: And the nicest.
Banker: Have a tissue.

Total TV: Is there a Mrs Banker? And, if so, is she in charge of the housekeeping?
Banker: Alas, no. There was a special young lady at one time, but unfortunately she lived in Weston-super-Mare and I would rather die than live there. Although many people, it seems, do both.

Total TV: How will you celebrate your birthday in private?
Banker: Economically.

Total TV: Has Gordon Brown invited you to Number 10 to talk about the 'credit crunch'?
Banker: Yes. He told me how many hard-working people face losing their homes; how dozens of young people will be overwhelmed with rocketing interest rates; how millions will be caught in the misery of an uncontainable debt spiral. I was there for six hours - mainly because we couldn't stop giggling.

Total TV: What's it like working with Noel Edmonds? Do you ever insult him?
Banker: Noel and I have a love-hate relationship. But I think we would be great friends if he didn't insist on being so nice all the time.

You're kidding me... Noel... Nice!?!?!

Here is another installment of the banker's answers. I submitted a sensible one, but it seems they only inclide stupid ones.

From Helen
I was just wondering if you like popcorn? And if so are you sweet or savoury? Regards Helen xxx
I love popcorn but I'm not sweet, dearest Helen, I guarantee you that.

From Janet
Dear Mr Banker
You can tell a lot about a man by his underwear so what underpants (if any) do you wear?
Janet, my best underwear is handmade and French, but like most people I only wear it if I expect to get lucky or run over.

From Graham
How do you like your eggs?
Devilled, Graham, naturally. By the way, I also know how your wife likes hers.

From Janet
Dear Mr Banker
Where we you born?
In the attic.

From Moira
Dear Mr. Banker,
I'm 5 feet 7 inches tall with blonde hair & green eyes, not so young these days but you know you can get a great tune from an old fiddle. What would you like to have with you if we were marooned on a desert island ? Don't say my money because I haven't got any, and yours would be no good either.

Moira, thanks to your most detailed description it appears that, with you on the island, I would already have everything I could possibly need. Although, I might also take a towel.

From Les Davis
Hello Mr Banker,
Do you know the collective noun for a gathering of bankers?

Yes Les I do. It’s a Wunch of Bankers.

Maybe I should just ask stupid questions like these people did rather than ask a sensible one for it to be ignored

I submitted one a while back, before the Banker's Birthday, asking what his worst & favorurite presents were. But then there weren't any more answers before his birthday.

At least I know what a gathering of Bankers are called now - A Wunch of Bankers (I had to be careful there )

Haha, go into a bank. 'as anee1 sen a wun\ch off bankres init?'

hahaha what a thread. brilliant stuff!

This is interesting.



So a live web chat with the Banker then. Should be an interesting chat hopefully.

Link - http://www.dealornodeal.co.uk/backstage/webchat/

Hopefully there'll be a transcript of it available after the chat for those who can't make it. Sounds good though, maybe we should all go along under our forum usernames and stage a takeover of the official site, spamming the question box with the forum's web address and so on.