Broadcaster Zoe Ball took on the banker in the latest celebrity special of Deal or No Deal, bringing with her an unusual memento of her late mother that became an emotional centrepiece of the episode.
Steel pants family saying
Host Stephen Mulhern asked about the object she had brought, and Zoe revealed it came from a saying her late mum used: "put your steel pants on." She said her mother had had the garment made, with y-fronts at the front and girl pants at the back.
Playing for a hospice
Zoe was joined in the studio by family and friends, including her son Woody Cook. She was hoping to raise as much as possible for St Peter and St James Hospice in Sussex, which cared for her mum.
The opening rounds
Zoe began by picking box 13, saying "unlucky for some," and it opened to reveal £50. Her dad Johnny, a former children's TV presenter, encouraged her to choose his box next, number one, which contained £10,000. Box 16 was then a second red in a row at £3,000, before £10 and 1p came off the board.
The banker's first offer of £2,118 was met with disapproval from the audience, with Zoe saying she heard someone call it "ridiculous."
A difficult second round
In the second round, Zoe picked box number seven, held by her brother Nick, calling it a lucky number because she used to skip it when learning to count. It contained £100,000, prompting Nick to say "I thought I had the £100,000," to which Stephen replied "Well why didn't you say it?!" Seeing the maximum amount removed, Zoe admitted "that hurts." As she weighed up her next move, her son theorised box 22 should not be opened, but her dad exclaimed "It's rubbish! It's all superstition!"
Further offers of £3,825 and £6,207 followed. After a positive round that left £50,000 and £75,000 still in play, the banker offered £16,000, which was turned down. In the next round, Zoe ignored the banker's hunch and picked the box with £75,000 inside.
The final decision
Zoe then took the banker's next offer of just over £13,000. She explained that the hospice had looked after her mum and she had a "sensible head." Her brother agreed, saying it would be a "life changing amount" compared with ending up with £1. The decision proved wise, as the next box she chose contained £50,000.
How to watch
Deal or No Deal Celebrity Special airs Saturday at 7pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
