Wow… this came like a bolt from the blue… Friday evening, there I am, 6pm still sitting at my desk… the perils of a home office and being self employed, and the phone rings.
First thought… it’s my husband phoning me from downstairs… (two phones in the house and 2 flights of stairs between the kitchen and the office, I will admit we are occaisionally lazy…) But no! I answer the phone and it’s Amy from Lime Pictures, the company that films The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) enquiring into the possilibity of a 21 player game 1920s theme.
Well… to cut a long story short, and so many emails that you wouldn’t believe… Red Herring Games will be featured on TOWIE this sunday (7th July 2013). I’m not sure who from the cast they have playing the game that evening, only that it will be played by a total of 18 people and hosted by two men.
As you might imagine the time pressure was immense. The initial call came through at 6pm on Friday, and the final “go” on Saturday late evening – and they needed all the game materials to begin filming for this Sunday’s show on MONDAY AFTERNOON.
Now… I’m not good with maths, or for those who know me… analogue clocks… but even I could work out that it was less then 48 hours from inception to completion that was needed.
So if I was to stand any chance of pulling this off I needed to use a “base game” as my starting point.
So we had to make a decision. To use “Murder at Merkister Hall” or to use something else…
It would seem at first the easiest thing to do would be to use a game from the website… but what if the cast revealed the murderer either on television or through facebook, twitter, press releases… it would mean we would have to remove that game from sale.
So… I had a bit of a quandry… after all, the solution is the “big reveal”… what could I do?
Over the years, we pick up custom orders from clients. Some make the website after a quick re-write (e.g. A Corporate Murder was written for Disney Stores Ltd originally with Mickey and Minnie mouse in it… not that you would ever know; The Smashed Hits Poll Winners Murder was originally written for a local Vision Express 50th celebration – which will explain, for those who have played it, quite why there are as many references to glasses and contact lenses in there as they are). But there are some games which, quite frankly would be TOO RUDE to make it onto the website…
So… after a brief discussion with Amy, it was off to one of these large player “rudies” to clean it up and create something 1920s appropriate for ITV viewing.
Sunday, after church, saw me bascially superglued to my seat, and I worked, with no more then toilet breaks from 11am to 2.30am (Yes… 15 1/2 hours straight) on Monday morning creating a whole new game just for TOWIE!
They wanted no TOWIE references within the plot, so my favourite name “Fanny Vajazzled” wasn’t to feature shucks… Mind you – I couldn’t help my usual nautiness and the dead body is Rudyard Well… he always was a hard act to follow… and now he’s a stiff…
Here is the synopsis the cast will be receiving this week… and their characters.
It’s the roaring 20’s; a time of hope, prosperity, industrialisation, liberating fashion and jazz.
There’s money to be made if you’re business savvy and have the right connections;
and tucked away in the leafy depths of the Essex countryside, millionaire Sir Rudyard Well is just one of those who has achieved a very comfortable life.
Ranking #3 in the Forbes millionaire list, Rudyard Well is presently the wealthiest land owner in Essex, with a massive investment portfolio which includes the very latest in aviation technologies, as well as one of the largest international import export businesses on the Essex coast, Well Enterprises Ltd.
Sir Well is known for hosting lavish soirées, and tonight was to be no exception. With exquisite food and lavish surroundings the evening was passing pleasantly and uneventfully, at least it was until he was discovered dead in his cellar face down in a tray of kitty litter.
The question is – which of the guests killed him?
THE SUSPECTS
Faye Slift – Mistress of Sir Rudyard Well.
A glamorous film star of some renown, Faye Slift is incredibly enticing and she has never been short of wannabe suitors.
Chuck Soveigh – The inventor and founder of Magnetic Underpinned Gearing (M.U.G.)
Aesthetically very pleasing on the eye, and with some significant financial backers, Chuck Soveigh is a good catch and he knows it.
Gill Tedd – Estranged third wife of Sir Rudyard Well.
A former model, Gill Tedd is a glamorous blonde famous for her appearance on numerous motorcar calendars.
Al Tetude – Founder of Essex Lion Aviation
Well connected and a fascinating conversationalist, Al Tetude is incredibly suave and good with the ladies.
Hugh Jinnins – International cricket coach.
Resplendent in his cricket whites, Hugh Jinnins is very handsome and has a charming and witty personality.
Anna Glipta – Art dealer
Classy and reserved, Anna Glipta has an attractive figure and has a sculptor’s eye for the other men at the party.
Hugo Furst – Test Pilot
Brave and daring, Hugo is hardly ever out of his flying gear, and is always reluctant to be parted from his leather jacket, long white scarf and goggles.
Debbie Taunt – American Socialite
With links to the French fashion industry, Debbie Taunt is dazzling at any party and a favourite of Sir Well.
Marc D’Triumph – French Ambassador
Flamboyant French ambassador with a seductive accent and a cultivated look, Marc certainly knows how to entertain a lady.
Charity Bahl– Singer
Able to wow any crowd with her canary like voice and her peacock display of colour and form, Charity shines even without a spotlight, and always draws a crowd.
Warren Pease – Navy Captain
With the archetypal stiff upper lip, and smart in his dress uniform Warren radiates victory, though his career has been more chequered than he cares to admit.
Lee Enfield – Hunter.
A marksman of some renown and currently in pursuit of the “Beast of Brentwood” Lee Enfield is a powerful presence in any room, more noticeable for his preference for safari gear.
Ros Well – Celebrity Journalist
Never one for missing out on a scoop Ros Well is incredibly well dressed, and always on the look out for scandal and gossip, she always dresses to thrill… just don’t ask where she keeps her notebook and pen!
Emile Tikkit – Decadent Writer
Incredibly vain, fond of fashion and very much a man of leisure, Emile is single-minded in his pursuit of dandified elegance.
Ena Trance – Astrologer and spiritualist.
An enigmatic lady with hidden depths, Ena Trance positively oozes luxury from her every pore.
Jenny Tix – Creator of the Elixir of Youth.
A jewel encrusted beauty, Jenny Tix partakes of her own elixir and is regularly mistaken for a much younger woman.
Ivan Ego – Self-made Millionaire
An international man of mystery, Ivan’s financial beginnings may be inscrutable but his money is very much in evidence in his attire.
Anita Drinck – Executive vice-president in Sir Rudyard Well’s Corporation.
Elegant and with refined tastes, Anita Drinck doesn’t suffer fools gladly and takes no prisoners.
Of course… I suppose we need to write this one up into a proper plot now for everyone… and it’ll have to be called “The Only Way is Murder…”
You can find our more about our regular games here: www.red-herring-games.co.uk