British audiences adore game shows for their witty hosts, challenging quizzes, and high-stakes drama. Programs like The Chase and Pointless draw thousands of contestants eager to test their skills. Yet, even top winners often face delays in receiving their prizes. Analysis reveals cases from Deal or No Deal, The 1% Club, a Channel 5 production, and The Traitors where payouts took months or never arrived.
Deal or No Deal: Months-Long Wait for £8,000 Winnings
Janet Swannell, a children’s entertainer, secured £8,000 on the ITV show Deal or No Deal. Contestants select a box but do not access the cash immediately. Swannell shared on TikTok from her car that she recorded her episode in November 2024, but it aired in January 2026.
She explained the payout rules: winners receive funds six weeks after the episode airs or six months after filming, whichever comes first. For her, payment arrived around May 2025. “I have a loud mouth and it was not an easy secret to keep,” she said. “Lots of people are asking ‘when did you get your winnings?’ The answer is not a simple one.”
Swannell kept the win secret for over 12 months to avoid legal issues with ITV, despite friends’ questions.
The 1% Club: £100,000 Prize Delayed Nearly a Year
Daniel O’Halloran, 24, triumphed over 99 competitors on ITV’s The 1% Club in 2022, winning £100,000. A strict rule requires winners to wait weeks after the episode broadcasts for their cheque. He surprised his family but still awaited funds after nearly 12 months.
O’Halloran plans responsibly: “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 Show: £23,000 Win Lost as Episode Never Aired
Quiz veteran Tony Fillingham, 51, from Cheshire, has succeeded on shows like Tipping Point (£2,700) and Tenable (£45,000). He also appeared in Emmerdale and Extreme Diet Hotel. However, on Channel 5’s 5 Second Stars, hosted by Kate Garraway, he won £23,000 that never materialized.
The episode failed to air, leaving Fillingham unpaid. “I never saw a penny of my £23,000 winnings from 5 Second Stars – all because the show never aired,” he stated.
The Traitors: Traitors Still Await £95,750 Split Prize
Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy made history as the first Traitors duo to claim the £95,750 prize pot in season four of the BBC series, splitting £47,875 each. During a January appearance on This Morning, host Cat Deeley read viewer questions to Libby.
“How many times have you checked your banking app since the final? Has the money landed in your accounts yet?” she asked. Laughing, Libby 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 added future plans: “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.”
