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Deal or No Deal viewers left in tears as contestant admits he doesn't have long to live

Home> Entertainment> TV & Film

Published 10:57 1 Dec 2023 GMT

Deal or No Deal viewers left in tears as contestant admits he doesn't have long to live

Brad suffers with motor neurone disease

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

Nostalgic telly lovers were left over the moon when it was revealed earlier this year that the iconic tea-time game-show Deal or No Deal would soon be returning to our screens.

The nerve-wracking series - previously hosted by TV veteran Noel Edmonds - aired for 11 years on Channel 4, and saw contestants opening box after box in a bid to keep the huge cash prize of £250,000.

After coming to an end in 2016, however, viewers were left with a game show shaped hole in their lives.

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That is until it was announced that it would be making its eagerly-anticipated return in 2023 on ITV, and with a shiny new host - none other than Catchphrase frontman, Stephen Mulhern.

And with the latest series now fully underway, fans have been delighted by the reboot, which has been largely dubbed a success by TV critics.

But last night's instalment of the hit show will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most heartbreaking episodes ever, after a contestant revealed they were suffering with a terminal illness.

Brad's story had viewers in tears.
ITV

The player - Brad - appeared noticeably upset on the show, later breaking down in tears after explaining to TV presenter Stephen that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Brad also revealed that his life expectancy wasn't to be long, being that MND affects motor nerves, that eventually degenerate, weakening patients and eventually leading paralysis and death.

He disclosed that he likely only had a handful of years left, but explained that famous physicist Stephen Hawkings, who was also diagnosed with MND - had lived for 55 years.

Brad revealed he'd wanted to appear on the ITV show in the hope of winning some cash which would allow him to start ticking exciting items off his bucket list, as well as leaving some money for his family.

ITV viewers were heartbroken.
ITV

And his story clearly resonated with hundreds of viewers, as the cameraman regular panned to members of the studio audience, with many in floods of tears.

Viewers at home and in the studio were fully behind Brad, and it looked as though the odds were in his favour when he managed to slice through a fair few blue boxes, and left the £100,000 still to be found.

But it wasn't to be for poor Brad.

At a moment when the £75,000 was still in play, the infamous banker offered him £12,500, but he politely declined.

Things went from bad to worse, however, when it was discovered that Brad had the £5 in his box the whole time.

Brad has motor neurone disease.
ITV

"This is my life," he told Stephen. "I've always had such bad luck. Nothing changes, I should have expected this."

And it looked as though viewers at home were equally upset, with one writing on X (formerly known as Twitter): "#DealOrNoDeal Brad deserved so much more, really unlucky guy I hope his life goes better in the future."

Another went on: "Brad you might not have won big but you have a handsome fella, a lovely mum, a goat and loads of chickens, that's better than any money! Thanks for playing your game and I wish you lots of love for the future. #DealOrNoDeal".

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: TV And Film, Health

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

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@rhiannaBjourno

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