Well would you do it? Could you back-stab somebody for the chance of winning a chest full of treasure?
It became obvious that this was one of the requirements after I hot footed it to the smoke for my screen test. I made it clear I could not do anything that compromised my integrity, that I would try and find another solution, even if it meant losing out on a £50,000 prize.
I must also admit that I stumbled badly when it came to the lateral thinking test and I was faced with a row of figures which I had to complete. Maths never was, 
or ever will be, my strong point (thank heavens for calculators, I say). The pic shows me and others filling in the paper work.
It was great fun flirting with the thought of fame and fortune, and I’m very grateful to the Tory top guns who recommended me to Princess Productions as an intrepid, “strong woman” able to take on this challenge.
They had 7,000-8,000 applicants for The Search, Indiana Jones crossed with The Da Vinci Code, whereby 10 bright minds take off around the world solving codes and facing challenges to bring them closer to the treasure.
It will take them to stunning archaeological sites not normally accessible to the public, it is the trip of the lifetime that money cannot buy.
The final five men and women had been selected, and had even spent a bonding weekend in a hotel, but it was still felt that another “strong” woman was needed, hence my last minute invitation as the team sets off in about three weeks.
I have a friend who makes documentaries and she told me they would be looking for someone “combative”, which is not my nature. I’m sure my lack of skills with maths could have created considerable problems too – just imagine if I was faced with the treasure chest and had to unravel a complicated code of figures to open it, I could never do it, it would remain locked forever.
So what would you have said in my shoes, could you back-stab somebody for fame and fortune?
Good for your for maintaining your integrity Ellee, and that’s entirely in keeping with what we know of you from reading your blog.
I had a near brush with TV some years back when my then wife and I were recommended for a TV series looking at houses with a particular period – our vice was the Arts & Crafts look. My wife was dead keen, but I suspected that we would be stitched up, as after all, how many documentaries etc can any of us think of where ‘civilians’ do not end up as the playthings of the various Tristans and Arabellas in programme production. My exclusion clauses were to have no exterior shots, no surnames and no geographically specific information given out, plus I was not prepared to appear on camera. We were not selected, and I’ve lost no sleep over it.
Well done, Ellee; personal integrity is far more important than 15 minutes of fame on the tv.
Croydonian, some friends of mine with six teenage kids between them were nominated for Wife Swap but declined for similar reasons as you mentioned about your programme. I am intrigued about the arts and crafts in your house which caught the TV team’s eye, what was so unusual about them? Were they OTT?
Ellee – this was Arts & Crafts in the interior design sense. Think William Morris / Liberty print curtains and turn of the last century furniture. Bought most of it here.
Herself bagged most of it, but I’ve got the wardrobe / linen press, which *might* have belonged to Lewis Carroll, apparently
Croydonian, you might get a pretty penny for the LC stuff if you can authenticate it.
Well done, Ellee, for maintaining your integrity.
The chap who sold it to me said he’d heard the tale but coudn’t prove it. Meanwhile, I have an eminently practical piece of furniture which I also enjoy for its beauty, beyond its utility. Quoth Morris (from memory): Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. Not a bad sentiment, eh?
Hi Ellee, just catching up on all your news :o)
Good for you for remaining true to yourself and remaining reluctant to compete for the almighty $$$
“Tristans and Arabellas”?- a little sweeping I feel… It sounds like an experience if nothing else, I imagine that they were looking for a very specific “character” type- its nice to know that you didn’t spontaneously discover a ruthless and aggressive streak if nothing else!
[…] But I decided to go for it, having missed out previously, and a taxi soon arrived to take me to the BBC studio in Cambridge. […]
[…] What is your fear, and how have you overcome it? By Ellee I have written a guest post for the erudite Tom Paine on my fear of public speaking and how I am conquering it. You can read it here. […]
Integrity is liable to lead to even more and better offers in the medium term, i.e. the nature of the offers will be betterand more comfortable, with better long term results.
James, Fingers crossed…..