Connell Gibson
Name: Connell Gibson
Broadcast: 17th July 2006
Job: Warehouse delivery driver
Location: West Midlands
Before DOND:
‘If I got one of the big reds, I could pay off my mortgage, take care of my family (I’m a father of four) take us all on a big holiday… But more than anything I wanted the experience: it looked like a laugh and I was up for it! I reckon that I’m a lucky sort of person – I’ve got four lovely daughters and a beautiful wife, so yes, I am a lucky man.
‘Deal or No Deal is its own world – you don’t really know the feeling unless you’ve done it, you’ve been on the inside… I was up until the early hours partying and bonding every night. I had the role of “Daddy”, looking after the new contestants and making sure they were comfortable and okay – and I loved it, more than my game! I’m outgoing, I like a laugh, and it suited me down to the ground.’
On DOND:
‘My numbers were completely random, and on reflection maybe I should have had more of a game plan. The Banker’s offers just didn’t seem enough and then when I got the chance to swap I went for it. It was the only time you could say I’d gone with my intuition. I swapped my box for one that had my “lucky number” on it – clearly not that lucky – and swapped £10,000 for 1p!
‘I wasn’t the only one. When I was there Sally and later Giorgio got the 1p boxes and, of course, you think, “Why them? They’re so nice!” But when it happens to you, you have to think it comes down to chance. It’s one of those things.’
After DOND:
‘I went back to work! Fortunately, I couldn’t tell anyone what I’d won and had to keep it a secret. I was pretty glad of that! Straight after the show though, I was still the “Daddy” so I had to do speeches, introductions and that was good because it took my mind off it. I also couldn’t possibly have drunk more – I definitely drowned my sorrows!’
‘No I haven’t spent it (The 1p) because I haven’t seen anything I want yet! Seriously though, the wife’s lost the cheque tidying up – bet she wouldn’t have done that if it was for “£1,000!’
‘I’ve got a bit of fame out of it. I still get recognised… I’ve just joined my local football team and the crowd chucked loads of 1ps at me during my first match! But I tell you what, I picked each and every one of them up and there was £2.50. I ordered a pint saying, “You’ll have to count them!”
‘Do it! Grasp every minute because it flies by. But if you’ve got a figure in mind and you get anywhere near it, take it because it might not come around again.’