The tension on the set was as thick as an iceberg and just as cold.

It was the set of a game show in which the stakes were high and the letdown from defeat was equal to the drop from the communications satellite from which the footage was being sent into the ether.

The camera zoomed in on a sweating man as he paused, the gearbox of his mind grinding away, conjuring up some little known fact from deep within.

A producer sat on the edge of his seat and the director, headphones perched on his head, had power beyond belief.

A ton of perks hung in the balance as the man gave an answer -- the wrong one -- in a voice cracking under the pressure.

Where `Survivor' is contrived and `Who Wants to be a Millionaire' drags on and on, this show was rapidly paced -- the contestant was near to hyperventilating.

But the set was not in Hollywood, New York or even London.

It was high above a rural part of Devonshire, the turquoise sea of Grassy Bay and The Dockyard in the background.

The only problems in the afternoon appeared to have been a balky battery in a remote microphone and convincing technicians in a studio in London the water really is that colour of blue.

The Bermuda segment was shot under the large Cable and Wireless satellite dish and beamed directly to millions of viewers in the United Kingdom.

The UK's hottest new show, `The National Lottery Jet Set' landed in Bermuda last week and a lucky Somerset, England couple lived a life of luxury here, sampling the finest our home had to offer.

But in the end, after plush accommodations at the Newstead, sumptuous dinners at upmarket restaurants, and being chauffeured about, Mark and Traci Hobson return to work this week -- disappointed but happy.

Moments after beating the four time champion in a head to head quiz on February 10, the couple were being driven to Heathrow for a flight to Bermuda via New York.

No expense was spared for their week in paradise but after being defeated by a challenger, Mark faced a long return journey -- in the economy section.

"Am I disappointed? No, not really, it's been absolutely fantastic,'' Mark said on Saturday, after being consoled by Traci. "We've experienced things like we've never had in our lifetime. We really enjoyed living the jet set life in Bermuda.

"We had Valentine's Day dinner at the Waterloo House in Bermuda -- you can't get anything better than that!'' he added. "I've never played golf and we swam with the dolphins.

"The whole week has been one of the most romantic weeks we have ever spent in our lives,'' Traci added. "Bermuda is just incredible. The Bermudian people are friendly and it is so beautiful. Please thank all the staff at Newstead, they were wonderful.'' Mark added: "I was very nervous throughout the filming and this is almost a relief.

Island features in TV quiz show It was nerve wrecking to say the least. At least now we know what happened.

It's over.'' The fifth stop of the round the world tour by each episode's winner, BBC TV One producers, working with Panatel Multimedia and Cable and Wireless (Bermuda) coordinated the 20 minute programme without any on-air hitches.

Panatel were contacted in October about filming here in Bermuda and worked out the details of the trip, including choosing the site, three stories up at the base of the huge dish.

The live link-up, while not an everyday experience for the local C&W crew, went off smoothly and BBC producer Paul Hardy was pleased with their work.

"To tell you the truth, Bermuda has been an absolute pleasure,'' Mr. Hardy said after filming. "The guys from Panatel and C&W were great. Brilliant. And London loved the film they shot. Everybody has been really supportive and we've had no problems at all.

" We work with local crews because they know the area better,'' he added.

"For us, this is a 24/7 job and we have already been around the world. But Bermuda was special.'' Sara, the woman who defeated Mark, is now in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

If only he had known The Oaks are held at Antrim and not Cheltenham and she had not identified Nicolo Salvi as the designer of the Trevi fountain in Rome, he would now be riding horseback in the Pampas.