Deal or No Deal disaster as weeping Luke crashes out of 'cruel' game with 'paltry' three-figure sum
That certainly won't pay for his wedding…
Deal or No Deal returned from its festive break today (January 5) – much to the surprise of viewers – with player Luke facing The Banker.
Social media complaints poured in over the festive season after ITV aired repeats instead of new episodes. As a result, game show lovers were thrilled when host Stephen Mulhern posted on social media last night, revealing that season 2 was resuming today!
Deal or No Deal today – Luke’s game
Today’s show saw Luke take on The Banker.
Luke took out the £100,000 very early on, so switched his attention to keeping the £75k box in play. The next round saw him lose the £50k box. The £25k box was then opened, taking that off the board.
With four reds and four blues left on the board, The Banker offered Luke £4,100. But with £75k and £7.5k left on the board, Luke replied: “No deal.” But was it the right choice?
Sadly not, as the next box Luke opened was the £75k, with jackpot going out the window and Luke – who wanted to pay for his wedding with his winnings – crying and getting a hug from his fellow contestants.
“The wedding’s probably off now,” quipped one viewer, as the £7.5k box was taken out.
So how much did Luke go home with?
Earlier in the show, Luke revealed that he and his fiancée were planning on tying the knot in a zoo. But he may have to scale back his wedding plans.
Sadly, he went home with just £455, after accepting The Banker’s final offer with just £10 and £750 left on the board. Stephen did make him open his box, though. And, had he have played on, Luke would’ve left with just £10.
Viewers react
“That stung,” said one viewer after Luke’s game. “Such a cruel game,” another agreed. A third commented: “Every single red gone. A paltry sum. Awful first game of 2026.”
Not everyone was feeling so charitable, though…
“Make your wedding budget not reliant on a game show win,” another advised. Others told Luke to “get a grip” and “stop snivelling”. “It’s a game show – no one died,” another said.
“Why do they cry, and expect people to feel for them. It’s a game show, you gambled your winnings and lost. Suck it up!” another tweeted.
“The game may have been cruel to Luke but at least he beat The Banker,” said another, who tried to find a positive in Luke’s disastrous game.
Read more: Deal or No Deal contestant’s TV past revealed
