A WOMAN who won a whopping £250,000 has told how she had to keep her big win a secret for seven long months.
Tegen Roberts, 32, was studying for her English degree while battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she received the “lifesaving” sum.
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While being unable to work due to her illness, she decided to apply to star on her favourite game show – a process she had completed countless times.
The die-hard fan had submitted herself as a contestant on Deal or No Deal for two years, but hadn’t been lucky enough to get selected.
But in August 2010, she finally got the call inviting her to an audition in Bristol.
Tegen took part in a number of team-building games in groups – like “throwing bean bags to each other” – and answered questions about herself on camera.
The speech and language therapist said she “couldn’t believe it” when she was notified she was successful in February the following year.
After stepping into the hot seat with Noel Edmonds, she was left with two boxes to choose from at the end of the game.
Tegen faced a tricky decision, as she knew one had £20,000 in and that the other had over twelve times as much value.
Thankfully, her risk paid off and she walked away with the £250,000 jackpot – which she splurged on holidays, a car and a Man United shirt signed by Wayne Rooney.
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However, the game show winner faced another challenge after scooping her mammoth prize – keeping it quiet.
Because the episode of Tegen’s triumph wouldn’t air until the end of the year, she wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about her windfall.
The cash was released into her bank account around a month later, leaving her struggling to conceal her lavish new purchases.
She laughed: “People did start questioning why I was suddenly driving around in an Audi Convertible – so it was really hard not to say anything.
“I had a great experience on the show, and that’s enough for me. The £250k was just a really happy bonus.
“I was ridiculously lucky, and I thought to myself at the time ‘what will be will be.’
“By the end of the show, the two boxes left were £20k and £250k – so I knew I’d be coming away with at least some money.
“Then, of course, I opened up the £250k box. I’ve never screamed so much. It was absolutely amazing news.”
Tegen was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the time, which she’d been diagnosed with on April 1, 2010.
She offered to pay for her treatment – but was told the best option for her would be to receive it on the NHS, at Derriford Hospital.
At the age of 21, she was able to purchase her first “bog standard” house in Liskeard, Cornwall, while working on her health.
She then travelled around Europe and continues to do so with the money she has left – flying to Spain, Greece, Italy, France and Croatia.
Tegen has incredibly been in remission from cancer for 10 years, and now works as a speech and language therapist.
The new series of Deal or No Deal is set to start at an unconfirmed date later in 2023 – and she thinks lots of people should apply.
The former winner said: “It’s going to be so nice to have new people on it, it’ll be an amazing experience for them.
“I really do wish I could go back and do it all over again.”
She explained she had spent two weeks in a hotel with four other contestants from her episode back in 2011.
She says they “really bonded” – going out for dinner together, as well as spending full days in the studio.
She said: “People always used to say the contestants seem really close – and that’s because we were.
“We became really good friends in those two weeks.”
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