TV show a big deal for Bill

Tuesday 7th October 2008, 11:35AM BST.

A former landlord from Shropshire has walked away from one of television’s top game shows £12,500 better off after striking the right deal.

Bill Hunter, 72, appeared on Channel 4′s Deal or No Deal yesterday after being nominated by Olive Peppiatt, of Baschurch.

Contestants have to choose whether to accept a cash offer from The Banker or reject the offer and continue to open boxes.

The grandfather-of-two, of Wem, who ran the New Inn at Prees for eight years, cut a deal with The Banker for £12,500 before finding out his box – number 13 – contained just a £5 prize.

Mr Hunter said his friend Olive had sent in an application form for him to go on the show, which was filmed in Bristol in May.

He added: “I was quite happy with what I got, I did not go there for big money but I went there for the experience of getting on the show and I came back with a lot more than I went with.”

He added: “It was strange watching myself on the set of Deal or No Deal when I’m sitting here at home. I’ve never been on television before.”

Mr Hunter, a widower, said he met Olive about two years ago at a Royal British Legion dance and she had decided to nominate him in secret. She had sat in the audience while he had taken part in the show.

View more: North Shropshire news.