As we build up to the 1000th show, we caught up with some of the most memorable players. From Laura who became the first £250,000 to the inspirational Peter Law. So what has happened to the contestants since they appeared in the Dream Factory?
Mally Welburn – 47 from Hull
One of the biggest success stories from Deal or No Deal. Before sitting in the Crazy Chair, Mally was homeless and penniless. However he managed to win a massive £54,000 in the Dream Factory and has since turned his life around starting his own business and has had two self penned books published about his life.
Peter Law – 38 from Halifax
Peter Law suffered a serious motorcycle accident while on his way to collect his daughter from school. The accident left Peter with a broken back and a severed spinal cord and was told that he would never walk again and that he would spend at least 18 months in hospital. Despite this devastating news, Peter’s determination to walk again led him to fill out an application for the show whilst lying in his hospital bed. Just three and a half months after the accident Peter managed to walk out of hospital supported by crutches and amazingly the first time he walked unaided was down the Walk of Wealth in front of a studio full of people and an audience of millions.
Since winning £5000 on Deal or No Deal, Peter has had surgery on what he calls the ‘scaffolding’ in his back which has resulted in even more movement. Since he took that dramatic Walk of Wealth on the show, he has been continuing to practice his walking and is even planning a charity motorcycle ride across South America.
Lauren Titley – 25 from Kent
Lauren Titley managed to create one of the most dramatic games of 2008. By going all the way to the end, she managed to win a massive £100,000. She is now able to fulfil her dream of diving with sharks in South Africa and has bought her first house. She also threw a massive party when her show was broadcast the week before Christmas.
Claude Clayton – 39 from Chesterfield
A longer term suffer of Cerebral Palsy, Claude had managed to overcome all the obstacles thrown at him during his life through determination and laughter. Claude came to the Dream Factory hoping to fund his dream of a new wheelchair, which cost in the region of £12,000. Unfortunately he only managed to win £200 in his game but in a fantastic display of generosity, an anonymous audience member donated the necessary funds for Claude to purchase the wheelchair he needed.
Laura Pearce – 27 from Gloucester
Laura is now famous after becoming Deal or No Deal’s first quarter of a millionaire. The money made a massive difference to her life by enabling her to travel the world. She has since gone on to get married and in 2008, gave birth to a baby girl.
Carrie Pollock– 25 from Wiltshire
Carrie was studying countryside management and conservation and dreamt of becoming a park warden. Heartbreakingly she had to leave college after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and to change her active lifestyle. She then met Gary at an office job she took up. She admitted whilst playing Deal or No Deal that she would rather have MS and Gary, rather than live without him. She played on New Years Eve 2008 winning a huge £41,000 and at the time talked about her need to travel to warm climates for recuperation as cold weather aggravates her condition. Since her show Carrie has managed to buy a timeshare in Madeira for the next 25 years which will make a massive improvement to her life.
Kerry Riches – 39 from Chesterfield
Kerry created an electrifying game when the Dream Factory suffered a power cut in the middle of her show and the boxes had to be locked up securely in a cage on the studio floor. Whilst watching her own show go out on Channel 4, pregnant Kerry’s waters broke and she was rushed to hospital, giving birth to a ‘Deal or No Deal baby.’
Go back to the 1000th show >>>