Steph's game today.

Noel talks about the highlights and lowlights of Trev's game; the highlight was when he produced the perfect all-blue round, but the lowlight was Gaz's 'exciting' story! Gaz is forced to read out an apology statement!

Steph has Box 17 today.

Stephen Illingworth, from Edinburgh, very smartly dressed in Scottish attire, complete with kilt. He is a house husband, as his wife is a child minder. He has a photo of his two children, and another of him and his wife in their teens.

Here we go...

Round 1

Steph has two special numbers, one of which is on the table.

Box 11 with David - £20,000

Box 12 with Lyn - £100

Giuseppe gives us a quick blast of his harmonica! Noel cuts him off by stealing his microphone!

Box 21 with Giuseppe - £5

Box 2 with Irene - £50,000

That gives the £20,000 a relevance, says Noel.

Box 5 with Hannah - £10,000

Banker time...

Bit of an uncomfortable opening round, says Noel. The Banker says the day has arrived, as Steph is in the chair; he says Steph has described the Banker's feelings very accurately on the wings, and that makes him a dangerous player.

Banker's offer:

£16,500

Very good offer. I was expecting £10,000.

£16,500?

WHAT THE... ?! £16,500?!

Has DEAL-EYE gone?

Noel says it's very rare for players in the wings to talk about how the Banker will be feeling. He says Steph is a great reader of the Banker, as well as the board. Steph says that's unbelievable. He says the offer is way over what he had in mind. David is called on for advice; he says there's loads of blues to hit, but it's such a good sum of money. Steph says he's seen many reject the first offer easily. His wife tells him to go with his gut.

Steph apologises for taking so long in deciding. Noel wonders if this will be the first first offer deal!

Noel calls a break before Steph answers the question...

Predictable break before the question is answered... also another very cautious player today.

Let's hope he doesn't make history and deal here.......

It's understandable that he's taking longer than usual. He did take out £80,000 worth of reds there.

The FD is £9,246.15. The offer is 178% of that!

We're back...

Noel says nobody spoke to Steph during the break. He says this is a big decision for Steph, and his family. Steph says he'd feel very different if he didn't have Box 17, which is his lucky number.

Steph says:

NO DEAL

PHEW... it did look like it was going to happen...

Next offers the Banker will pitch just exactly right, on the very low side.

Did anyone think he was going to say DEAL? The Banker was close to getting a first offer deal there.
All-blue round here would push the offer into the high 20s I think.

Round 2

Noel says that's the closest we've ever been to a first offer deal. The Banker is disappointed that Steph didn't deal, but, if he had, we'd have had to fill up the time with Giuseppe playing the harmonica!

Box 9 with Waraporn - £3,000

Box 14 with John - £10

Noel says Steph has created an amazing atmosphere.

Box 6 with Kelly - £75,000

Banker time...

As the £75,000 went... I'd expect the same offer again.

Steph says £75,000 makes a huge difference, and analyses the board, and how the Banker will think. The Banker says Steph can read him like a book. He said a really important thing during his previous deliberation: the first offer was more than he imagined he'd win.

Banker's offer:

£10,017

Noel says another player could've had a much bigger drop. Becky gives Steph some advice, as does Gaz. Adam says Steph can be summed up as 'Scotland the Brave'.

Steph says:

NO DEAL

He didn't deal the first or second offer... looking at the time, more than likely another third round deal.....

Round 3

Noel says Trev's game was transformed by two perfect rounds, and Steph needs one now. Steph gets his refreshment, that he didn't get during the first break, as per usual.

Box 15 with Gaz - £250

Box 10 with Becky - £50

Noel calls a break...

Another blue and I think this could be £17k. Maybe more if he hits 1p or any of the Banker's P5.