A woman from Cornwall who won £250k on Deal or No Deal has told how she had to keep her prize money a secret for seven months while waiting for her episode to air.
Following the news that the iconic gameshow is making a return, this time to ITV, one big winner from Cornwall has recalled her moment in the spotlight and encouraged everyone to sign up for the experience.
Tegen Roberts, now 32, had applied to the game show after being a fan for years.
After putting herself forward for two years - between 2008 and 2010 - she finally got the call to audition in Bristol in August 2010.
The process included team-building games in groups - like “throwing bean bags to each other” - as well as answering questions about herself on camera.
In February 2011, she "couldn't believe it" when she received an invitation to take part in the show.
At the end of the game, Tegen was left with two boxes to choose from - knowing one had £20k and the other £250k.
She took a punt and came away with the jackpot - which she spent on holidays, a car and a Man United shirt, signed by Wayne Rooney.
Tegen, a speech and language therapist, from Liskeard, said: “I had a great experience on the show, and that's enough for me.
"The £250k was just a really happy bonus.
“I was ridiculously lucky, and I thought to myself at the time 'what will be will be.'
"By the end of the show, the two boxes left were £20k and £250k - so I knew I’d be coming away with at least some money.
“Then, of course, I opened up the £250k box. I’ve never screamed so much. It was absolutely amazing news.”
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Tegen spent two weeks in a hotel with four other contestants from her episode.
She says they “really bonded” - going out for dinner together, as well as spending full days in the studio.
She said: “People always used to say the contestants seem really close - and that’s because we were.
“We became really good friends in those two weeks.”
The prize money wasn’t released into her bank account until a month later.
Due to her episode not being aired until the end of the year, Tegen wasn’t actually allowed to tell anyone.
“People did start questioning why I was suddenly driving around in an Audi Convertible - so it was really hard not to say anything,” she added.
Tegen was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the time, which she’d been diagnosed with on April 1, 2010. She offered to pay for her treatment - but was told the best option for her would to receive it on the NHS, at Derriford Hospital.
Tegan was too ill to work while studying for her degree in English at Plymouth Marjon University - and branded the £250k she won “lifesaving”.
At the age of 21, she was able to purchase her first “bog standard” house in Liskeard.
Tegen also travelled around Europe and continues to do so with the money she has left - flying to Spain, Greece, Italy, France and Croatia.
She has been in remission from cancer for ten years, and now works as a speech and language therapist.
The new series of Deal or No Deal is set to return on ITV with Stephen Mulhern later in 2023 - and Tegen thinks lots of people should apply.
She said: “It’s going to be so nice to have new people on it, it’ll be an amazing experience for them.
“I really do wish I could go back and do it all over again.”
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