We answer the five questions that you surely ask yourself about the show



In 2006, in studio 217 in La Plaine-Saint-Denis, Beyoncé performed on the stage of the star Academy. Fifteen years later, in the same place, the thunderous applause gave way to a cathedral silence. On one of the largest arenas in Europe, six pairs make piles and rows of dominoes for M6. Presented by Stéphane Rotenberg and Issa Doumbia, Domino Challenge puts twelve enthusiasts to the test, trying to win 20,000 euros. After the first issue has aired, you probably have some questions. 20 minutes answer it.

How were the candidates selected?

Finding domino lovers is not easy. For example, unlike Lego, there is no association or club that identifies fans of the game. In order to find its candidates, the production has therefore launched calls on social networks. Once the first choice was established, 40 pairs were selected for the final phase of the casting. For about six hours, the competitors competed against each other in conditions similar to those of the show over a 30 m² area with an imposed theme. The six best duos were able to access the real set and be filmed by the cameras of M6.

Are the pairs aware of the theme of the tests?

When the challenge of the week begins, candidates have fifteen hours to create the most impressive painting. Drawing frescoes, assembling structures, thinking about ingenious mechanisms, all of this takes time, which the competitors do not really have. As in Top chef, the pairs are therefore aware of all the themes of the tests before they start. Even before the start of the season, domino buffs can get together and even ask the production to build them small decorative elements. On the other hand, none of the candidates knows the calendar of the tests in advance.

Who are the dominions?

If we wanted to spin the metaphor with Top chef, we could say that, unlike other televised contests, the pairs of Domino Challenge can count on clerks. Three dominions, precious little hands, are indeed at the disposal of each team. We must therefore give them blind trust even if some and some of these companions have not touched dominoes for years. In reality, they were not recruited for their expertise or even for their agility. It is about acquaintances of members of the production: friends, little brothers and sisters even students who see Domino Challenge as a list to add to their resume as a summer job.

How do you keep the dominoes from falling?

Keeping the dominoes off when the construction phase isn’t complete is a constant challenge. Besides human error, production ensures that nothing can disrupt the smooth running of the competition. Thus, the 30 m² of surface available to candidates are not directly linked to the stage thanks to a slight space left between the base and the rest of the decor. “Nobody, apart from the dominions and the candidates, goes up on the platforms”, comments the producer Nicolas Missoffe.

Another point of vigilance, insects are not welcome on the plateau. “When a fly is walking, we are not very serene,” smiles Stéphane Rotenberg. The same goes for small, larger animals, such as rodents, whose presence is generally unwanted. Around studio 217 in Aubervilliers, north of Paris, it is not uncommon to see a mouse or a rat. Traps were therefore placed everywhere to prevent a tail from destroying ten hours of work.

Finally, while the pairs carefully set up their dominoes, they have the opportunity to put up small barriers that they can remove at the end of the test and avoid destroying all their structures in one breath. Others decide to remove a few pieces in certain places, “which is risky because you have to put these dominoes back at the last moment and with the pressure …”, worries Thibault Lesne, French record holder of falls. dominoes and jury member.

How do you find seven tons of dominoes?

The most impressive figure of the competition, seven tons of dominoes were sent to the show’s set. As you can imagine, there are not 700,000 pieces around the corner. Before Domino Challenge begins, the production has made its choice between several styles: light plastic dominoes, others in wood which do not necessarily have the right size … Finally, Endemol opted for competition dominoes which are used for the legendary Domino Day. “They come from a single factory in Holland. She had a little bit of it so we took it all. Afterwards, we asked them to urgently build everything else, ”says Nicolas Missoffe. The show’s teams have even been picky in asking for specific colors, like turquoise blue or orange, whose shades are not always produced in normal times.



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