BBC viewers are celebrating after Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel contestant, Gordon, scooped up a mammoth £31,000 for a worthy cause.
The game show, hosted by the titular comedian, has members of the public answer trivia questions with the support of the celebrity experts Josh Widdecombe, Chris Harris, Colin Jackson, Harriet Kemsley, Shirley Ballas, Frankie Bridge, Jordan North and William Hanson –
The father-of-two, 40, from Glasgow is a NHS portering manager who shared his heartfelt backstory on the show on Wednesday night.
As he told Michael, he has one daughter Bella, 10, who lives with cystic fibrosis and has always dreamed of visiting Japan.
His other youngest daughter, Ruby, sadly ‘passed away about two and a half years ago with a brain tumour’.
As a charity money-raising family at heart, with Ruby in mind, Gordon shared he was planning to donate a portion of the money to the Brain Tumour Charity in her memory, with the rest going towards Bella’s dream Japan holiday.
In his first go, he tried his hand at making it all the way.
After losing out on a difficult dance question, Gordon had a second chance to win big money when he was brought back on at the end of the show to go for the £31,000 prize pot with the help of Harriet.
Faced with the question of which pop legend secured the first solo UK number one single – between Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Beyonce – they decided to go for the Queen B herself and were sweetly rewarded as the whole room exploded into cheers.
After the victory, he spoke more about his daughter, adding: ‘When she was diagnosed she was given six to nine months to live but with her attitude – she was just a ray of sunshine – she had a really good three years.
‘She started school, she was a bridesmaid at my brother’s wedding, so as a family mantra we came up with the motto “be a bit more Ruby”.’
Winning in her honour, and being able to give his other daughter her dream holiday ‘means a lot’, he added.
His well-deserved triumph was celebrated by viewers at home as well.
‘Love it when the person you’re rooting for on The Wheel actually wins! Go on Gordon!’ realitytvandme_wrote on X.
‘Most deserving winner on The Wheel losing a child to a brain tumour and another seriously ill with cystic fibrosis. This world is so cruel. Well done Gordon!’ @_xcharlotee said.
‘Well deserved winner,’ Sanny echoed.
‘I was rooting for Gordon. So pleased he won’ Anna posted.
‘Delighted for Gordon,’ Mags agreed.
‘So glad Gordon won,’ Jo declared.
The show has kicked off to a strong, and emotional, start to season six with a history-making win last week.
Sally from Gateshead, who shared she had received the all-clear from lung cancer only recently, burst into tears after landing £110,000 aka the biggest prize of the series.
The Wheel airs on BBC One at 8pm every Saturday.
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