A POSTIE from Abbotskerswell has scooped £18,000 in TV game show Deal or No Deal, hosted by Noel Edmonds.

Louise Houghton’s win was broadcast on Channel 4 on Tuesday last week.

The money has paid for a family holiday to Corfu; her daughter’s 18th birthday celebrations; driving lessons for her daughter and son, aged 16; and the rest will be kept to ‘cushion’ her family’s future.

She said: ‘It’s been amazing to win money like that and will provide a nice cushion for the future for things I couldn’t save for.’

Ms Houghton won the money through dealing with the mystery ‘banker’ on the programme. She had just eight of the 22 sealed boxes left – four high-value reds and four low-value blues – when she ‘dealt’ for £18,000. Her own box contained just £5.

‘The whole experience was brilliant,’ she added. ‘I really enjoyed the whole adventure, being up in Bristol and staying in the hotel.

‘I’d done 23 shows before it was my go and was just having fun and laughs up until then. But then once it was my turn to sit in the hot seat I was really nervous as it hit me we were playing for real money, and my family’s future.’

A big fan of the show before she applied, she said her children encouraged her to apply online and then she attended an audition in Bristol.

She said: ‘The whole process was a great adventure and I’d recommend it to anyone to have a go. Noel is really professional and friendly and really puts you at ease. The whole production team look after you so well.

‘The contestants have stayed in touch through Facebook and reunions and we’ve continued to support each other after filming.’