Camelot changed the rules of its TV Dreams scratchcards yesterday, in a bid to avoid the embarrassment of not filling the teams competing for #100,000 prizes on the controversial National Lottery Big Ticket show.
The show needs eight members of the public each week to fill its teams - a total of 128 for its 16-week run on BBC1 - but so far only 77 people have come forward.
Oflot has now agreed that anyone winning #1000 on the TV Dreams scratchcards can take part in the televised competition, adding hundreds to the potential number of team members.
Until yesterday, the only people entitled to take part in the TV game were those who uncover three stars on their TV Dreams scratchcards.
They win #1000 for appearing on the weekly show, and stand to scoop as much as #100,000, depending on the performance of their celebrity team-mates in a series of challenges.
Camelot distributed 961 three-star tickets - enough to provide 60 contestants for each show - and has been astounded at the low take-up rate among winners, who receive nothing unless they appear on the show.
A spokesman said: ''We don't really know why they haven't come forward. It might be that they think they have to take part in the games themselves, when that is done by the celebrities.
''Maybe they are simply shy about appearing on television. Whatever the reason, we know there are three-star tickets that have been bought, but for some reason have yet to be claimed.
''We hope that by increasing the number of people eligible we can ensure there will be no empty spaces.''
The Big Ticket show has nine weeks to run and, if no further winners come forward, is due to run out of contestants in three weeks.
People who have already claimed #1000 TV Dreams prizes will be contacted by Camelot and entered into an ''instant win TV draw pool'' to decide who appears on the show.
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