British audiences cherish game shows for their witty hosts, knowledge challenges, and high-stakes drama. Programs like The Chase and Pointless draw thousands of contestants annually, yet winners often face significant delays before accessing their prizes. Several players share their experiences of waiting months—or not receiving winnings at all.
Deal or No Deal: Six-Month Wait for £8,000 Winnings
Janet Swannell, a children’s entertainer, secured £8,000 on ITV’s Deal or No Deal. Despite the legitimate prize, she endured months without access to the funds from her chosen box.
Recording her episode in November 2024, which aired in January 2026, Janet received her money around May 2025. In a TikTok video from her car, she explained: “I have a loud mouth and it was not an easy secret to keep. Lots of people are asking ‘when did you get your winnings?’ The answer is not a simple one.”
She detailed the rules: “Basically, there are two options. You either get your winnings six weeks after your game airs on ITV or six months after you play and sit in the hot seat, whichever comes sooner.” Janet kept the win secret from friends to avoid legal issues with ITV, maintaining silence for over 12 months.
The 1% Club: £100,000 Prize Delayed Nearly a Year
Daniel O’Halloran triumphed over 99 competitors on ITV’s The 1% Club in 2022, winning £100,000. However, strict rules required contestants to wait weeks after the episode aired for their cheque—leaving him waiting nearly 12 months.
The 24-year-old planned wisely for the sum: “I’ve got to be sensible, maybe look towards the house, pay the mortgage off. But I’ve got to enjoy it as well. I can’t take this for granted.”
Channel 5’s 5 Second Stars: £23,000 Win Vanishes as Show Never Airs
Quiz enthusiast Tony Fillingham, 51, from Cheshire, boasts appearances on Tipping Point (£2,700 win), Tenable (£45,000), Emmerdale, Extreme Diet Hotel, and Steph and Dom’s One Star to Five Star. Yet his £23,000 victory on Kate Garraway’s 5 Second Stars yielded nothing—the episode never broadcast.
Tony stated: “I never saw a penny of my £23,000 winnings from 5 Second Stars—all because the show never aired.”
The Traitors: Recent Winners Still Awaiting £95,750 Share
Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy made history as the first Traitors duo to claim the £95,750 prize fund in season four of BBC’s The Traitors, splitting £47,875 each. During a January appearance on This Morning, host Cat Deeley asked Stephen about his banking app.
Laughing, he replied: “It’s not in there yet. But, yeah, I’m not checking because I just want to get a nice surprise when it finally comes in. But yeah, not yet.” He plans to buy new jumpsuits and use the funds to bridge the gap after leaving his job: “Obviously, some new jumpsuits [are] on the cards. And I’ve left my job, so it’s really just allowing me to survive for the next wee while as well.”
