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A Golden Balls contestant who misplaced £100,000 in one of many greatest betrayals in British TV historical past is now in hundreds of kilos of debt – however would nonetheless select to share the money if he had the possibility.
Stephen Bushnall, 50, stays an web sensation 15 years after the notorious episode of the ITV present first aired on tv.
The enterprise improvement supervisor has change into a meme and the clip typically nonetheless goes viral on Instagram and Tiktok the place he acquired deceived by fellow contestant Sarah within the ultimate spherical of the present.
It stays one of the surprising moments in TV historical past, with hundreds of thousands of individuals left feeling sorry for Stephen who wished to separate the £100,000 between the 2, with £50,000 every.
For the reason that present aired he has confronted troublesome challenges in life and is now £20,000 in debt.
He informed MailOnline: ‘£50,000 on the time would have modified my life. I used to be in a number of debt then and I nonetheless am now.’
Stephen Bushnall, 50, stays an web sensation 15 years after the notorious episode of the ITV present Golden Balls
Stephen misplaced £100,000 to Sarah on TV’s Golden Balls throughout a ‘cut up or steal’ ending
It stays one of the surprising moments in TV historical past and Stephen says he is nonetheless not over it. Pictured, Stephen and host Jasper Carrott react to the notorious ‘Steal’ second
Stephen, of Hartlepool, County Durham, informed Mail On-line: ‘I used to be in a number of debt then and I nonetheless am now. Like lots of people, I’m struggling. Life is hard.
‘I used to be completely devastated when it occurred. I used to be in a state of pure shock and broke down in tears.
‘It will have been superb. It will have sorted out a number of issues and I performed the sport pretty.
‘And proper now I’m £20,000 in debt by owed cash and bank card payments. The price of residing disaster has been very powerful.
‘However, if I had my likelihood once more, I’d nonetheless decide to share the cash. That’s the kind of particular person I’m and all the time will likely be.
‘I couldn’t have lived with myself if I had stolen all that cash from somebody. It isn’t who I’m.
‘And now, though I misplaced all of it, if I went again on I’d share. Whatever the monetary scenario I’m in and what occurred.
‘I do not know any totally different.’
Stephen has admitted the cash would have modified his life on the time and now
Stephen thinks there’s a good likelihood Golden Balls couldn’t be commissioned as we speak as a result of it’s ‘too brutal
Stephen thinks there’s a good likelihood Golden Balls couldn’t be commissioned as we speak as a result of it’s ‘too brutal’.
The present aired between 2007 and 2009 and was offered by comic Jasper Carrott.
It noticed contestants gather money and bluff their technique to the final spherical. The ultimate two then select to share or steal the remaining cash.
It each shared it was cut up but when one stole whereas the opposite shared – like Stephen and Sarah – then that participant retains all the cash for themselves. In the event that they each stole, they left empty-handed.
He added: ‘I went on in 2008 and even then I believe the world was a really totally different place to 2023. I believe Golden Balls may very well be cancelled now with how tradition the way in which it’s.
‘It’s brutal. However I did know that’s what the present is like. I typically give it some thought and I used to be totally satisfied Sarah was going to share.
‘I couldn’t image anything taking place. She seemed me within the eye and informed me she would share and I believed her.
‘A body-language knowledgeable spoke to me just a few years afterwards and mentioned wanting again they might inform she was going to steal.
‘I had no thought.’
Stephen has by no means spoken to Sarah for the reason that present however mentioned he has a transparent message for her if their paths had been to cross.
He added: ‘I would say I hope the cash made her joyful. I actually hope she invested it and spent it properly.
‘I would hate to suppose it acquired wasted on materials issues.
‘And I would say no onerous emotions. Do not get me flawed I used to be completely devastated.
‘However I simply hope she is OK. It will be good to reunite and meet and see how she acquired on with every little thing. I am very intrigued by what she spent it on. I simply hope it made her joyful.’
Stephen has not spoken to Sarah for the reason that present ended and doesn’t understand how she spent the cash
Stephen says that if the pair met once more he would ask her if the cash introduced her happiness
He mentioned he was taken care of by Jasper and backstage crew when the filming ended.
He added: ‘I broke down in tears when it occurred and I went out after with Jasper Carrott and some of the manufacturing employees for just a few drinks.
‘However one in all my first ideas was asking if Sarah was okay. Individuals thought I had gone mad however that is what occurred.
‘Jasper was nice. We saved in contact for just a few years afterwards.
‘The present was very intense. It was pure greed.
‘As quickly because it was performed we went our separate methods and that was that. I’ve by no means spoken to her since.
‘She has by no means been involved and by no means supplied me any of the cash.’
Stephen mentioned he’s contacted a number of occasions a month by friends who see outdated clips resurface.
He added: ‘Sarah should get the identical as nicely. It all the time pops up on Fb, Instagram and now Tiktok.
‘Individuals ship it to me and joke that I’m nonetheless well-known. I’ve been stopped on the street just a few occasions by folks wanting to talk and ask the way it was.
‘It is all fairly surreal nonetheless, particularly in spite of everything these years.
‘I learn someplace another person would possibly prefer to someday current it and take it on however I’m not certain society can deal with it the way in which it was anymore.’
