A fortunate The 1% Club winner bagged an astounding £99,000 and remarked his victory as a dream beyond wildest imaginations.
Daniel O’Halloran, 24, from Rock Ferry on the Wirral, towered over other contenders to secure his triumph on the ITV quiz show which aired on ITV last in May 2023. Lee Mack, known for his humorous nature, hosts the series that puts contestants through tests involving logical reasoning and mathematics.
Interestingly, it was his mother who enlisted him onto the game show as his family immensely enjoys the program. When Daniel set off for his filming journey to Manchester during July 2022, winning the grand prize was something he did not closely consider.
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The 1% Club starts with 100 aspirants and stages them into competition to reach the final round where the challenge is to solve a question only 1% of Brits can figure out, all lined up for a shot at the handsome sum of £100,000 jackpot.
(Image: Twitter/1PercentClubITV)
Daniel told Liverpool Echo: “I was quite confident in getting to the latter stages of the show, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined taking home that much money. I thought if I got to £10,000 with no money to fall back on, I’d take the £10,000 and wouldn’t gamble.
In the initial plan, he had decided to stick to the safe limit of £10,000, a decision also supported by the audience and fellow players. However, he took a daring turn and went ahead to opt for the question that clinched the £99,000 deal.
When this maths whizz found his answer was spot-on, he was over the moon. He exclaimed: “I lost control of my body. I was running around celebrating on stage in total shock. I never thought I’d be standing there on the show, let alone winning it.”
(Image: Twitter/1PercentClubITV)
Daniel expressed how challenging it was to keep his game show victory under wraps, confessing: “It was very difficult, there were some moments I nearly blurted it out or my family would ask me and I couldn’t keep the smile on my face. I only told my grandma and a few friends.”
However, he did spill the beans to his dear old granny but lead his parents on that the £10,000 he had managed to bank on the show was all he had won.
Surprising his family with the reveal of his win when they all watched his victorious moment together on TV, Daniel described unsurpassed joy: “When they were watching it, they couldn’t believe I’d done it. It was the best thing to see.”
The reactions from his family members could have qualified as a spectacle on its own, with Daniel reminiscing: “They were in total shock – they said some things you probably couldn’t print in the paper! They couldn’t believe I’d kept it secret.”
(Image: 1PercentClubITV)
After the telecast, Daniel has been revelling in unexpected fame and recognition in his local community: “It’s been crazy. People in shops and in the streets have been asking me about it. I’m overwhelmed by how kind everyone has been.”
Moreover, he offered words of sincere thanks to the show and his fellow participants: “All the other contestants were great and probably got me through it! Lee Mack was lovely too.”
Still keeping his head firmly on his shoulders, Daniel shared plans for his winnings stating: “I’ve got to be sensible, maybe look towards the house, pay the mortgage off. But I’ve got to enjoy it as well. I can’t take this for granted.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
