Lynne Hackles, originally from Pembrokeshire, appeared on Deal or No Deal 20 years ago and has shared her experience on the hit game show. The writer won big back in 2006 when she decided to stick with her box containing £75,000. The studio erupted into applause when host Noel Edmonds unveiled the box's contents, shortly before the other box in play was revealed to have contained just 10p.
Behind the Scenes of Deal or No Deal
Lynne recently reflected on her experience during a conversation with OLBG. She recalled the moment she first entered the studio, saying: "I'd seen it on television, and when I got there, it was just how I expected. But then I got nervous, and I didn't even notice the cameras. It didn't dawn on me until afterwards. You do get to know all the other contestants because there's no competition."
Lynne then revealed that each box is allocated to the players with a bag of ping pong balls that each have the numbers 1 to 22 written on them. Before the show was filmed, each contestant would pick a ball out of the bag. After learning the outcome of the random ball allocation, the producers would write each player's name down, alongside the number of the ball they'd chosen. Lynne explained that she wasn't allowed to tell her co-stars which ball she'd picked, adding: "That was the bit that you don't see on television."
How Lynne Spent Her Winnings
Lynne now lives in Malvern, Worcestershire. She spent some of her winnings on an American Winnebago, which she used to go travelling across the coast of the UK with her husband. The couple hired a local man to decorate the motor home, which included making a replica of her winning Deal or No Deal box, as well as a Deal or No Deal sticker.
A Versatile Author
Away from her success on Deal or No Deal, Lynne is a versatile author who writes across genres, including fiction and non-fiction. She has been writing for many years, with some of her short stories appearing in women's magazines across the UK and abroad. She also features in Writing Magazine, and has published a children's novel for pre-teens, as well as four non-fiction books.
"I call myself a butterfly writer, because I flit from one thing to another. My husband, known to many as the LSO (Long Suffering One), says I also flit from one thing to another in the kitchen, and in the garden," Lynne describes on her official website. "I have written advertisements in rhyme, greeting cards and comic strip stories (Bunty and Girl), newspaper articles and short stories for women's magazines. I've contributed to a children's book of humorous short stories, Don't Make Me Laugh, and written one, Racing Start."
Lynne has also written three books about writing and has been a ghostwriter. Her first novel, Gail Lockwood and Her Imaginary Agony Aunt, was published in 2023, followed by Dilys Lloyd's Dilemmas in 2024.
Deal or No Deal Today
Deal or No Deal is currently hosted by Stephen Mulhern on ITV. The show is available to stream on ITVX, while Lynne's episode can be viewed on YouTube.
