As we regularly do for our Fruity Slots community we interview ‘celebs’ from the showbiz and entertainment sector as we know how much punters love a bit of gossip! So lets get going!

Former Pointless contestant reveals the lengthy filming schedule, the off camera chemistry between hosts and why the winning trophy is not what you’d think

The BBC game show has been a hit since it first aired back in 2009. Hosted by Alexander Armstrong and previously Richard Osman – until his departure in 2022 – the premise is for contestants to give correct answers but as obscure as possible. 

But what is it really like to be a contestant? Rosie Mullender appeared on the show in 2019 with her mother Janet, 71, and emerged victorious, scooping the big trophy.

Speaking on behalf of FruitySlots.com, the 47-year old reveals the lengthy hours of filming, the fun application process and the big set design error that causes issues during filming.

When did you appear on Pointless?

We filmed the episode in 2018 and it was screened on TV about a year later in May 2019. The producers do warn you there’ll be a big delay with it airing and keep you up to date with when to expect your show.

How did you get on the show?

I originally went on a website that lets you put your name down to appear in the audience for shows and through that was a contestant on Fifteen to One. I loved Pointless so much and my mum was a big fan, so we decided to go onto the BBC website and apply for the show.

What was the application process like?

I must admit I applied on a dare so I can’t remember! But I was then invited to do a screen test a few weeks before filming. We went into this random office block in London and had to sit with other potential contestants and do a mock game of Pointless. My mum and I also had a screen test where we had to chat to each other on camera. They let us know soon after that we’d made the final round and invited us to the studios. They told us to keep a few days free unless filming rang long. I noticed production had our Pointless scores from the mock game on their clipboards, so I think they used that to choose the mixture of contestants and ensure it was a range of skill sets.

What was the day’s filming schedule like?

It’s a long day. I think we got there at 8 am but they filmed three to four episodes back to back and we were on the final one, so we weren’t called to start filming until 4:30pm. They tell you to bring your own clothes and take a few options. Stripes don’t work on screens, the colour red clashes with the background and they don’t think black wears well on camera. You also can’t wear logos. They also do your hair and make-up which is a nice treat. It only took about an hour to film a whole episode and we were done for the day.

How well did you do?

We won and got £1,000. We could have won more but the people who appeared on the episode before us pocketed £5,000 so the jackpot was lower. 

What were hosts Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osmon like?

They came around to introduce themselves to us at the podium and say hello. They were both friendly. Richard discovered that my mum is from Billericay, where he was born. He talked to her about that for a while and he made reference to it a few times on the show.

What was something that surprised you about the set?

It’s smaller than you think. Also, the set up is made for TV. Alexander actually stands in front of the questions on the board, so you can’t see them! He stands in a position where they’re visible on camera but not for contestants. It’s hard as you have to memorise them or try and peer around him to see.

Did you have to reshoot anything?

None of the real game was reshot and we were able to blitz through it really quickly. But Alexander did do a couple of takes of him asking the questions. He’d get a note in his earpiece and just redo the last line. You were warned that could happen and told not to answer again.

Does production give you any strict rules?

It’s not live so anything bad they can just edit out. They did tell my mum and me to confer out loud during the final round as the audience liked to hear the contestants’ reasoning. But we were so stressed we forgot!

What are Alexander and Richard like between takes?

They have a lot of banter between them. There’s a lot more chatting than what gets shown on the episode. They have a lovely relationship and you can see they get on well. 

How often do you get fed? 

We had lunch before we started filming and they do say there are snacks on offer.

Are you allowed toilet breaks?

You can go if you’re not filming but I think you’d just need to suck it up during the shooting of the episode. It honestly goes by so fast.

Was there anything that surprised you about the set or the game itself?

The main thing I didn’t expect was that the Pointless trophy is actually really little! I thought it was so much bigger. If you get through to the final, you get a trophy and you get one each so my mum and I didn’t have to share.

How long did it take for you to get the prize money?

Maybe a month – it wasn’t long at all.