Deal or No Deal viewers upset as ITV takes show off air: ‘Where is it?’

They want Stephen back on screen… pronto!

Deal or No Deal was replaced in the ITV schedules this week after the second series of the Stephen Mulhern-fronted series came to an end.

Fans of the show hoping to tune into the show last night (February 17) were met with disappointment when, at 4pm, they switched on ITV to find Ben Shephard in Stephen’s place.

Ben was back with his game show Tipping Point. However, it wasn’t just the repeat that got viewers irked. They also appear to be desperately missing Stephen’s face-off with The Banker.

The second series of Deal or No Deal has sadly come to an end (Credit: ITV)

Deal or No Deal replaced on ITV

The second series of Deal or No Deal came to an end on Friday (February 14). So far, a third season hasn’t been announced. But one look at the hashtag certainly tells the top bods at ITV all they need to know about the show’s popularity.

The second season of the show featured some huge wins, including fan-favourite Nay Nay. She walked away with the rebooted series’ biggest-ever prize. She stuck with her box right to the end of the game and was rewarded with £75k.

However, all good things come to an end, and Deal or No Deal has now been replaced by Tipping Point – much to the displeasure of game show fans.

Game show fans revolt

“@ITV what’s happened to #DealOrNoDeal ???? Why put boring Tipping Point on?? Get @StephenMulhern on!!” one disgruntled viewer demanded.

“Ermmmm… where is #DealOrNoDeal this evening??” said another a little more politely. 

Another commented: “What? Where is #DealOrNoDeal? Just come out of a meeting and it ain’t on!” “I am gutted there’s no more Deal or No Deal,” another added.

So when is Deal or No Deal back?

ITV hasn’t announced a third series yet. And, looking online, we can’t see that applications have opened for the next season of the show.

However, last year, season two of the game show was announced at the end of January – one week after the first season ended.

If ITV follows the same pattern, then season three could be announced within the next few days.

Why Deal or No Deal’s Nay Nay had to wait for her cash prize

Nay Nay was the big winner on Deal or No Deal season two.

On the episode shown on February 2, she stuck with her box till the bitter end and went home with £75,000 – the rebooted series’ biggest-win yet.

However, she didn’t exactly ‘go home’ with the prize, and here’s why…

Nay Nay had to wait for her Deal or No Deal prize

Winner Nay Nay had £75k in her box, but she’s h a her bank account for some considerable time.

The series, which ended on Valentine’s Day, was actually filmed last summer. Filming for the show started back in June 2024, according to a post on Facebook.

Fast-forward six months and her episode was shown on ITV1. However, three days after her big win was aired, she revealed she hadn’t received a penny from the jackpot she won. And that’s because it hasn’t been put into her bank account yet.

As is usual with game shows, players aren’t paid out until after their episode airs, regardless of when it’s filmed. The same happened with Leanne Quigley’s recent Traitors win.

ED! has asked ITV for clarification. But it’s reported the money will be credited to her account in March.

‘I wanted to ensure I had fun’

However, Nay Nay didn’t seem too bothered about the delay in being paid out.

The paralegal was selected after 27 games and her only intention was to make it to the end. She said: “My strategy was my faith. I knew I was going to the end so my main thing is I wanted to ensure that I had fun, which I definitely did.”

She then added: “I mean, my game was so fun. I remember screaming, crying, laughing, and it was just amazing.”

She added that she had met people who would become her “friends for life”. She also revealed that they’re going on a holiday together… After the money lands in her account, that is!