The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency has found that the Golden Ticket competition to win a place in Chanel 4’s Big Brother house, organised by the television station in conjunction with Nestlé and Endermol, was not rigged – but warned that the promotion did breach certain competition regulations.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The competition, which was inspired by Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, offered people who found one of a hundred golden tickets in Nestlé’s Kit Kat bars the opportunity to enter the reality TV show ‘Big Brother’.


Of the 100 tickets available, 34 people entered the competition – with a single winner being decided through a lottery-style draw using numbered balls.


The winner, a part-time stripper named Suzie, had auditioned for the show a number of times and was recognised by some of the show’s other housemates. This caused 11 people to complain that the draw had been rigged.


Although an independent observer witnessed the different numbered balls being placed in the machine, an independent observer did not observe the draw itself – breaking CAP Code clause 35.7.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The ASA noted: “An independent observer was present as the balls entered the machine, but not in the period immediately before the draw or at the time the draw took place.  Because we considered that an independent observer should have been present and watching throughout the process of the draw and particularly at the point the winning ball was drawn, we concluded that the draw was not conducted under the supervision of an independent observer.”


The authority warned each party to ensure future competitions abide by the rules governing such promotional activity.