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Original poster

The Secret Millionaire

14 replies

TooManyBlossoms · 03/05/2011 21:16

Surely, after so many series, the people on this programme realise what's happening? If you ran a charity and a random person turned up wanting to volunteer, complete with a camera crew, you'd be writing your shopping list before you could say "off shore account"?

And I do find it a bit condescending at the end of the programme where they admit to often incredibly poverty stricken people that they are actually a millionaire - well whoopee doo for you! And surely they could give a way more money than they actually do?

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 03/05/2011 22:08

I feel the same, in that I can't believe it isn't glaringly obvious to the charities what is going on, especially with all the due diligence they must do beforehand.

Ladymaryjane · 03/05/2011 22:14

I agree, although on tonight's programme she did say she was filming for a different show. I don't think the measly £3000 she gave to that lovely charity shop lady was 'life changing'.

Also, usually the millionaires are self made and go back to their roots, they empathise because they've been there. This millionaire, lovely as she is, was born with a silver spoon in her mouth as had her DH. Not quite the same.

Original poster
TooManyBlossoms · 03/05/2011 22:26

She did also give the charity shop lady another £100k to buy another building to extend the shop!

OP posts:
Ladymaryjane · 03/05/2011 22:29

Oh, I missed that! I thought that was for the well to do lady though. I never watch anything properly Blush

Sleepwhenidie · 03/05/2011 22:33

The secret millionaires I inevitably like the most are the ones who don't use the term "millionaire", rather they say that they are "successful" in their life/business. There is something that suggests they revel in the ooh's and ahh's the big "millionaire" announcement (sometimes) illicits from the people they are speaking to. You will probably find the seriously rich ones don't say it and it is much classier! I wonder how much pressure the tv co puts on them to do the big line though....

GoodnightNobody · 03/05/2011 22:34

I saw this too.

I began by scoffing at her privileged lifestyle , but thought she went into the programme with a humble and open attitude.

I thought she could have given that vile diamonte statue of a boy giving the finger that was shown in her house at the beginning of the prog to the charity shop.

Sleepwhenidie · 03/05/2011 22:36

Toomany I think maybe you are being a bit harsh saying that they could give away more than they do...I think the minimum they have to give is £50k which is a lot of money by anyone's standards. You will probably also find that most of them find that the whole thing is a life changing experience and they go on to continue to support charities and be involved in philanthropy a lot more than they did previously, off camera.

BitOfFun · 03/05/2011 22:40

Yes, I haven't got a problem with the amounts given away- just the fact that it's stretching credulity somewhat that there is any level of surprise involved.

Jajas · 03/05/2011 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ladymaryjane · 03/05/2011 22:51

Again Blush Jajas, I never watch anything properly Grin

beachyhead · 03/05/2011 22:52

I don't really care if they guess, because they get a huge boost from the money, which is the idea I suppose. I thought she was lovely and so tactile, especially with the older people. I think she was great......

Mummyloveskisses · 06/05/2011 23:42

I used to love this program but after series 2 it became so obvious the needy people/organisations knew what was coming it wasn't worth watching for the fake surprise at the end.

I did enjoy the program C4 did last year How the Other Half Live, similar idea a wealthy family helping a poorer one but with no surprise ending so you did have to wait for fake shocked faces... I hope this returns this year.

nannynick · 08/05/2011 09:45

I wonder why the people want to be on tv to start with. They could do the same thing in their local community without the camera crew, couldn't they? It's not as though any of us have usually heard of the people before they go on the show. If they are well known in their local community, they could just choose somewhere else.

How the other half lives was interesting though, esp when the rich family gives the poor one a little bit of money, then don't approve of what they buy.

kitkatya · 08/05/2011 21:53

I used to like the Secret Millionaire more when they gave money to the individuals, not just to the charities. You know, here's a couple of grand to go on holiday or do your kitchen up. They dont seem to do this these days.

BTW my friends charity receives some money this week and they DID NOT see it coming. So, maybe not everyone is as cynical as us Smile

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