Four in a Bed - most popular answers
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2015-03-31 07:46:00 - Graham EllisWritten up as an an answer to the many questions I see / have had asked. It's 2 years since we appeared now, and the show format develops with time, so so things may no longer be the same.
* People's reasons for taking part are many and varied. Some have thought it through, others not fully.
* Contestants selected to make interesting TV
* 800 applied for our series; 48 selected
* Pre-interview process for shortlisted applicants
* You don't know which part of the country you're going to until the previous week, now where / who you hosts are until you meet for the first time.
* By the fourth visit, some contenstants may have picked up clues as to their destination
* Contestants are not given any guidance as to accommodation price norms in the areas they visit
* Filmed over a fortnight
* Arrive at each location late in the morning. Film through to lunchtime on the following day.
* Stay in "stagng hotels" between each visit. Thus:
Monday (daytime) travel
Monday night - Yann's, Crieff
Tuesday night - Knock Castle [HOST 1]
Wednesday night - Imperial, Blackpool
Thurday night - Barton House [HOST 2]
Friday afternoon - home
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Sunday afternoon - others arriving in our area
Monday night - Well House Manor, our place [HOST 3]
Tuesday night - Coventry Arms, upton Snodbury, Worcestershire
Wednesday night - Applewood Glamping [HOST 4]
Thursday night - Coventry Arms (formerly Attwood's)
Friday - at hotel in centre of Worcester [FINAL MEETING]
Friday afteroon / evening - home
* Each set of contestants stay in different staging hotels and do not mix / meet between places / film sessions.
* Rooms paid by contestants who are paid back by the production company.
* Underpayments made up to full asking price by the production company.
* Contestants are encouraged to check for dust / pick rivals up on little things
* There's a lot of waiting around between filming shots as the crew goes round each group recording
* When somethng happens, the same scene if often re-played ('do that again') to get a different camera view
* We had a lovely film crew consisting of a team of 6 or 7 who worked REALLY hard - even longer hours than the contributors.
* A very great deal goes on that doesn't get shown - recording (at our place) 14 DVDs of 40 minutes each. You see a selection of stories
* Show appoints a person at the production company to look after contributors through the show
* Web site gets huge traffic surge at time show initially goes our, and smaller surges upon repeat
* Different contributors report different response effects on teir bookings
* Previous guests (actual, and ones who imagine they visited) get reminded and submit online reviews
* Contestants will be recognised in their own locality for years afterwards
* And if you're travelling, you may be recognised and approach a very long way from home too!
* People want to talk and hear from you about the experience and how it all works/work(ed)
* Many contributors become friends with each other, stay in touch after the show, visit, etc. But that is not universal.
* The show has had a very marked and long lasting positive effect on us - far more effect than a typical fortnight would have.
We applied in June 2012, film tested in July, filmed in September 2012 and appeared the first week in January 2013 (series 4, episode 3) - repeated in various places 4 or 5 time since. We're Well House Manor - 48, Spa Road, Melksham, Wilts, SN12 7NY. At the time of writing, we offer almost identical services to those shown and remain delighted to welcome guests.