Spin to win

After 28 years on television, it is fair to say Winning Streak is a national institution. Part and parcel of Saturday-night routines up and down the country, the hour-long show is watched by grandparents and grandchildren alike. But, what goes into preparing RTÉ’s flagship game show? Irish Country Living went backstage to find out.

In short, the day consists of officials from the National Lottery going through the red tape with contestants, then meeting presenters Marty Whelan and Sineád Kennedy, lunch, hair and make-up, a rehearsal and, finally, it is show time.

Before all this begins, and the day gets too hectic, I sit down with Marty and Sinéad to pick their brains about the show. Both agree that paramount to their job is getting to know the competitors and putting them at ease.

The duo’s enthusiasm is infectious and I suspect this is the main ingredient in creating the show’s trademark feel-good factor. Marty, who also presents Marty in the Morning on LyricFM, says he loves Winning Streak because of its sense of fun: “It’s proper good-time television and, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the very best you can get. For me, it’s a good-news television show, when we are surrounded by things that aren’t.”

Asking them what the basis of Winning Steak’s popularity is, they give me a list of reasons as long as my arm: money, nostalgia, ordinary people, excitement. I do not even have to think twice about why I like watching the show: choosing a contestant and hoping they get to spin the wheel. Today I had no choice; Ann Sheridan just sat down beside me and started talking.

Contestants have much more to consider when going on Winning Streak than you would think. There is the outfit, the haircut, the bus and, of course, the after party. (I am very nearly coerced into going back to Donegal on a bus with Ann and her supporters.)

Over lunch, the Donegal woman assures me that I can stay at her house outside Letterkenny if I wish to make the four-hour journey back from Dublin with them. There is going to be a right hoolie, she explains, her family have brought a guitar, accordion and bodhrán on the party bus with them.

Before she has even won a penny, Ann says she is treating those with her to a four-course meal, stopping in Ardee en route. The home carer believes it is important to acknowledge those who have been good to you, explaining that her family and friends were always there for her after the death of her late husband, Seam, and when she had breast cancer.

Each contestant is allowed to bring no more than 22 people to support them in the audience. Ann had her work cut out for her in choosing the exclusive 22; and in the end drew lots to decide who would accompany her.

One person who certainly didn’t need to be drawn from a hat to get the invite to RTÉ studios was Ann’s one and only daughter. Aisling is an air hostess with Emirates, based in Dubai, and wrangled two days off to come home and cheer on her mother.

The 26-year-old flew into Dublin the day before and went back to Dubai straight after the show. The ladies stayed in the Clayton in Ballsbridge the night before. During lunch, Ann sinks two coffees, turning to me exclaiming that she needs to stay awake, she only got two hours’ sleep the night before, as she was so nervous.

Out of all the bits and bobs to be ticked off the list in the week between your name being drawn from the drum and appearing on the show, I gather from the ladies that the outfit is most important. Ann bought three.

There was one she did not like, one that did not fit and the gorgeous royal-blue ensemble she wore in the end. A friend had to bring it from Limerick to Dublin the night before the show.

In the green room, supporters proudly show off the banners they have been labouring over all week. The anticipation is palpable. It is there among the aunties, grannies, kids and mammies that I really begin to understand the show’s appeal. It all revolves around ordinary people.

Irish Country Living exclusively gets to reveal one of the country’s best-kept secrets to you: Winning Streak is not recorded live. A lot of the set has to be changed for the various games, so it is filmed a couple of hours in advance, so the set changes can be edited out before it airs.

While the equipment is being hauled about, the presenters and contestants have their make-up touched up. Marty exclaims that if any more foundation is put on him he will “be mummified”. Sinead fixes her red heels and gúna, lovely as always.

Donegal has a particular affinity with the show; it is in fourth place for the most contestants appearing on Winning Streak by county. Tonight two more Donegal contestants are picked out of the drum for the following week; and the luck keeps flowing as Ann gets to spin the wheel.

Such is the atmosphere, I find myself on my feet in the audience screaming along with Ann’s supporters. The bus going back to Donegal has a guitar, an accordion, a bodhrán and €53,000 more. One woman’s life has been changed for the better – and it only took three stars. CL