Noel welcomed us to Desert Island Deal but it is no paradise, the Ocean is turning ugly and they are running out of food and water! To pass the time a group of cast-a-ways play a game with 22 boxes and a phone so “let’s choose the chums” said Noel. “Yes we scoff at adversity and want to make our dreams come true for you… Dai!” announced Noel. The Dai was cast, the primary school teacher from Bridgend carried box 13 down the Walk of Wealth. Noel was pleased to hear that Dai uses Deal or No Deal as part of his maths teaching. “It is a good way to make maths fun” explained Dai. It helps them learn to handle money, use a calculator and make decision on when to deal. Noel held up a Deal or No Deal formatted work sheet which Dai uses with year five classes. Dai’s proudest moment was when he completed the Great North Run. A child from his school was diagnosed with leukaemia so Dai decided to contact a charity who advised him to enter the event. Noel showed a picture of Dai looking proud holding up his medal after completing the race. Dai admitted that box 13 worried him because he was going to pick that number first.

The Banker asked Dai to choose an amount from the board and if that amount was discovered in the opening round, Dai would win a holiday. Dai picked five pounds. Martyn, Kenny and Paul came close with £500, 50p and £10! Noel thought it was a sensational start. £250 and £1 completed an amazing all-blue start but Dai failed to find the fiver. “Did you pay formatting rights?” asked the Banker because Dai had used Deal or No Deal’s copyright to make his worksheets. Dai looked worried so the Banker thought he might become the first player to face criminal proceedings. The opening offer was £13,500 – No Deal. £35,000 and £100,000 was a nasty start to round two. Noel had a horrible thought that the five pounds was in Dai’s box 13. Dan concluded the round with £50,000! The Banker had a word with his lawyers and Dai’s use of Deal or No Deal was ‘highly illegal’ and because his class were aged 10 they are ‘all implicated! ’ Noel read out a message from the Banker “Hello children, Mr. Goldsworthy has been very naughty and now you will have to go to jail. Kiss goodbye to mummy and daddy!” If that wasn’t bad enough he also dropped the offer to £3,500 – No Deal. 10p, £1,000 and 1p were wiped from the board in round three. Jade got the kiss. Noel thought it was a ‘yoyo’ game. “The tide came in, the tide went out and came back in again” said the Banker who offered his original £13,500. He also thought Dai unconsciously knows the five pounds is in his box. Dan reminded Dai that “the bottles might come into play” – No Deal.

A horrid fourth included £3,000, £250,000 and £5,000. The Banker decided to offer £3,500 plus one bottle. Noel reminded Dai that if he finds ‘Treasure Island’ that would double to £7,000 – No Deal. Noel couldn’t recall a game like it when £100 and £50 were first out in round five. Dai recalled a random dream he’d had about box 15. He was in a supermarket car park, there were boxes dotted everywhere but 15 stood out. Phillip Schofield came over and told him to leave 15. Danny completed the round with £75,000! “Phillip Schofield would make an excellent host” said the Banker. The offer was £5,000 plus one bottle – No Deal. £750 meant five pounds was the last blue in the final round. £15,000 and £20,000 left a £5 / £10,000 finish. Dai’s show number is 1384 and the offer was £1,384. “If Phillip Schofield ruins my life I won’t forgive him” remarked Dai – No Deal. “How much faith do you have in Phillip Schofield?” asked the Banker before offering the Swap – No Swap. Noel flipped the lid on box 13 to reveal £10,000! There were huge celebrations, Dai plans to travel and teach abroad with his winnings which will “go along way!”

Noel was marooned on Desert Island Deal, the Pilgrims made up the Ocean and all the cast-a-way contestants were keeping up morale. Noel mentioned the mysterious messages in the bottles before choosing a cast-a-way. “Now it’s your chance to leave the island with the Banker’s booty…Laura!” cried Noel. The travel agent carried box nine down the Walk of Wealth. Noel understood the last five years have been like ‘Hell’ for Laura, in 2005 Laura had a tumour on her pancreas. She had to undergo a major operation which nearly killed her. Then in 2008 she began loosing weight after having a tummy upset. She discovered she had been wrongly diagnosed and the lump had been Cancerous. She received no treatment for Cancer after her operation so she now has secondary in the Liver. “It isn’t going to go away” revealed Laura, so a transplant will eventually be needed. “People think Cancer is a death sentence but is not” explained Laura who tries to help other Cancer suffers in a support group. “People can carry on for years and years” she added, which is what Laura plans to do. Noel held up two photographs of Laura’s children and husband, Jamie at their wedding. Best friend, Katie was amongst the Pilgrims with father-in-law, Staff making up the Ocean.

The Banker rang before any boxes were picked to say if Laura finds 10p in the opening round she would win a holiday! £100,000, 50p and £10,000 weren’t a great start. £50 and £500 concluded the round. Noel liked the round despite missing the 10p. The Banker was amazed by Laura’s story but “business is business” and he offered £2,000 – No Deal. Dan started round two with £50,000 “we all want a big money game” said Noel. £3,000 and 1p completed the round. Stephen was the lucky one to get the kiss. The Banker said the 1p saved her and went up to £5,000 and one bottle. Noel said there are three messages, two are ‘Desert Island’ and one is ‘Treasure Island.’ If Laura found the ‘Treasure Island’ she would double her winnings to £10,000 – No Deal. £250, £5 and £5,000 were wiped from the board in round three. The Banker described Laura as an ‘extraordinary’ contestant because of her single mindedness and offered £14,000. Laura thought that offer was ‘huge’ but she followed Dai’s advice and gave it another go – No Deal.

The Banker was under pressure when £100, £1 and £15,000 did little damage in round four. “A fantastic board, I’m excited and nervous” admitted Laura. The Banker was looking to save himself some money and offered £12,000 plus one bottle. There were cries of “no” from the Ocean so the Banker rang back, “what an ugly current” and upped his offer to £12,000 plus two bottles. Laura would feel bad if she didn’t take anything back home for her children. She admitted it was ‘crunch time’ and a ‘make or break’ decision – Deal! A nightmare start to round five saw £10 and £750 discovered. The Banker rang to say if the next one is blue the offer will be £45,000! Linda flipped box 14 to see 10p! It was an all-red five box and the Banker would have offered £45,000. ‘How much cruelty is left?’ asked Noel going into the final round. £35,000 and £75,000 was heading in the right direction. Kenny was asked to kill the game with box seven and £250,000! It was a £1,000 / £20,000 finish and the Banker would have been offering £6,000. Noel flipped Laura’s box nine to see £1,000. It was time to smash the bottles, Laura picked the Blue and Red bottles. Noel put on protective clothing before smashing the Red bottle to see ‘Desert Island.’ Noel smashed the blue bottle which hid ‘Treasure Island!’ doubling Laura’s winnings to £24,000! “I’m over the moon” said Laura who has had one of the best times of her life.