Matt won £35,000

A 1/4 of a million pounds, 22 sealed, identical boxes and no questions except one 'Deal or No Deal'.

Its just like CrackerJack, millions of people around the country sitting with a hot cup of tea ready for today's drama. Noel reminded everyone of what happened yesterday, and that this game was about getting HUGE money. Today it was Matt's turn to enter the lion's den. Matt had been waiting a long time (but not as long as Lucy - everyone loves Lucy).

Matt, a 25 year old fire fighter was talking business, he was 'here for a purpose', and he was just going to get on with it. Straight away he led from the front, trying to put his fellow contestants at ease 'no pressure', they were there to enjoy themselves, they were not to think about 'blue' or 'red'. As a fireman he would see people in real tragedy, nothing that was going to happen today would upset him.

Round one: £5, £100, £20,000, £1000, Matt was happy, £3000 to end the round and a cheeky smile across Matt's face. The banker phoned to address the 'bold and selfless' Matt and offered him £8500. I think the irony of that offer was lost on Matt but almost certainly the banker knew what he was doing, £8500 was the highest Barbara was offered yesterday, then Matt opened two boxes (because Alan was absent) that took all her dreams away . He said 'No Deal', smiling broadly.

Round two: 10p, £10,000 and then the break. Steve opened 1p on the return to loud applause, Matt's smile getting even bigger if that was possible. At this point 7 blues and 7 reds, the banker joked that he could smell burning and every should leave. The offer was massive £16,000 - presumably because the power 5 were still in place, and Matt telegraphed that he was not going to accept by telling the crowd (in a relaxed manner - a la Saj) to raise the noise level.

Round three: 10p, this was becoming a very interesting board, Matt beginning to show signs of pressure, the smile slipping. Noel warned that a big number was inevitable, but the next box was £10. Matt pierced the room with his blue eyes, nodded across to Kirstie who obliged with £750, a perfect round - and the relaxed smiling persona had been replaced with a tense, very serious, considered fireman. The banker phoned to be greeted by a very excited Noel, who screamed 'what’s the offer' - the banker hung up. This broke the ice and everyone laughed. The banker phoned again to offer £22,500, this was a good offer considering the past few days, and he was clearly having to think very hard, Helen advised to keep going, but Matt was struggling, he took a deep breath, the risk was very clear to him, he said 'no Deal'.

Round four: he went to Helen £50,000, it had to happen but Matt's protestations of 'being ok' were falling on deaf ears, this was the make or break round. £50 took off some of the pressure, but then he selected Dave, who said 'no problems I feel good about this box' - this was probably the kiss of death, but we had to wait until after the break to find out. Dave was right!! £500 not sure we've been here before?
Matt had moved from happy to serious and now he was in a state of shock, what would the banker say? Noel was shocked, the offer was £20,000, the banker was playing politics, he wanted Matt to go on - and Matt was on a roll - 'No Deal'.

Round five: £5000 a great start, Noel pointed out he now could not have 'a round from hell', but the next box was £100,000, the contestants held hands hoping for the best but they got the worst - £250,000 from Jim. The banker jumped in £10,000 less than half, £75,000 the highest prize still left on the board - no guts no glory: 'No Deal'.

Round six: Lucy opened £75,000 - Matt's head went down, Jim and Barbara must have gone through his mind, they certainly went through mine, but then he pulled £1 and the studio rang with cheers. Could he find £250? A number came to him, he picked the box and there it was - £250. The crowd went wild the pressure was off, Matt was going home with at least £15,000. The banker offered £22,450 he was looking for the moral victory, it was less than his highest offer during the game. But any of the amounts available to Matt were going to make him very happy, so it was an easy decision - 'No deal'.

Then he said something extraordinary – before coming to DOND the linking of hands was something he was never going to do because his mates would rib him stupid, but within 5 minutes of his first game he understood the reasoning and the emotion. He asked to go back to his friends, his fellow contestants, and stand with his back to the board, holding hands one last time as Noel opened the box.

Noel opened the box and it was there - £35,000!! As Noel said, a truly great moment in the 'home of dreams', and Matt deserved it!