Viewers of the revived game show Deal Or No Deal were left reeling this week after a contestant's costly decision saw her miss out on a life-changing £100,000 prize.
The Costly Gamble That Backfired
During Tuesday's episode on ITV1, contestant Sonia found herself in a nail-biting final stage with three blue boxes remaining. Inside them were the tempting sums of £10,000, £5,000, and the coveted top prize of £100,000. Hoping to secure a guaranteed win, Sonia opted to accept the Banker's offer of £22,670, ending her game prematurely.
The decision proved instantly disastrous. When host Stephen Mulhern revealed the contents of Sonia's own box, it contained the full £100,000. The studio fell into a stunned silence as the reality of her choice sunk in. 'Aw man,' was all a devastated Sonia could muster in response.
To twist the knife further, the Banker then called to reveal that had she simply opened one more box, his next offer would have skyrocketed to £52,670. The revelation drew gasps from the audience and left Sonia, who had played a strong game until that point, utterly heartbroken.
Fan Fury and Social Media Reaction
The dramatic moment sent fans rushing to social media platform X to share their sympathy and shock. One viewer exclaimed, 'Who would have thought opening a couple of shoe boxes would be so dramatic! #DealOrNoDeal.' Another wrote, 'Still a huge amount to win, but yikes missing out on the £100k - gutted for her.'
Many praised Sonia's gameplay but lamented her final choice. 'Wow! Sonia played an incredible game....but she went against her gut feeling!! £52,670 at the 2 box stage. £100,000 in her box,' summarised one fan, capturing the collective feeling of a missed opportunity that sent 'tension off the scale.'
The Enduring Mystery of the Banker
The episode aired amidst ongoing fascination with the secretive figure of the Banker. Last year, it was finally revealed that the voice on the phone during the original Noel Edmonds-hosted series (2005-2016) was Coronation Street actor Glenn Hugill, who also worked as an executive producer.
However, since the show's 2023 reboot with Stephen Mulhern, a new Banker has taken over. Mulhern himself insists he is kept in the dark about the identity. 'I don't know who the Banker is,' he stated, 'so I wouldn't be able to recognise who it was - he could walk past me at any point.' He has only confirmed the voice is male, joking on social media about the Banker being on a cruise 'tormenting strangers over the buffet.'
The show, which first hit Channel 4 screens in 2005 and has aired over 3,000 episodes, continues to captivate audiences with its high-stakes drama and human stories, as Sonia's painful loss so powerfully demonstrated.
