I’m glad I said ‘deal’ to Deal Or No Deal!

NOEL’S fortunes started to improve when he agreed to host the hit show Deal Or No Deal, left.

The format proved extremely lucrative, earning him tens of millions of pounds.

But he nearly missed out on those riches by turning down the idea – not once, but twice. He admits he was reluctant to do the programme, saying: ‘I’d only seen the French version of the show, which made me think they were going to cast me as someone like Bruce Forsyth on speed.’

But despite his misgivings, the show proved a huge success, allowing him to rebuild his finances and buy another beautiful home. The loss of his Broomford estate in his dispute with HBOS had been a particular blow.

‘I turned down the show twice, when I really needed the money,’ he adds. ‘There is a theme to my broadcasting career – I’ve never done anything just for the money.’