Noel Edmonds reveals dramatic new career change after moving to New Zealand as he surprises fans during visit to Britain
Noel Edmonds surprised fans on Monday after returning to Britain and revealing his dramatic new career change.
The former Deal Or No Deal presenter, 74, moved to New Zealand with his wife Liz in 2019 after the game show was axed in 2016.
While visiting his family on Monday, Noel was stopped at the Victoria Park Community Cafe in Frome, Somerset, where he became stuck serving some customers.
Cafe volunteer Sherry Anne Downes said the presenter was ‘happy’ to stand behind the counter as she discussed his new career in New Zealand.
She said Somerset Live: ‘Noel certainly caused quite a stir. He was in the park with family and stopped by for a cappuccino.”
Noel Edmonds, 74, surprised fans on Monday after returning to Britain and revealing his dramatic career change (pictured with fan Sherry Anne Downes)
Sherry continues: ‘At first I asked him if I could take a photo and then I rudely asked if he wanted to come behind the counter and serve some customers. He loved doing it and did about 20 minutes and people loved it: he was an angel.”
‘Noel loved the idea of our community cafe as he has one in New Zealand. He talked to us about our café, but also about his own company.’
Deal Or No Deal was previously fronted by Noel, from the first episode in 2005 until it ended in August 2016 after 13 series’.
It comes after the Deal Or No Deal reboot reportedly took a major hit as its massive jackpot has reportedly been cut amid the cost of living crisis.
The iconic game show returns to screens, with Stephen Mulhern taking over from original presenter Noel.
But while the contestants were usually aiming to scoop an incredible £250,000 in prize money, that total has now been reduced to just £100,000, according to reports by ITV.
It is believed that the 60% drop in prize money is due to the broadcaster’s desire to keep ‘costs’ low.
A source said The sun: ‘It’s a strange sign of the times, but times are tough for ITV, as they are for all other companies up and down the country, and £100,000 is still a lot of money these days.’
Throwback: The former Deal Or No Deal presenter moved to New Zealand with his wife Liz in 2019 after the game show was axed in 2016 (pictured in 2006) – he now has a cafe
‘Also, Deal or No Deal was never about the win, it was always about the game and the camaraderie between the participants, with some happy to walk away with nothing… or in some cases just 1 cent.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV representatives for comment.
At its peak in 2006, the series attracted more than three million, but by the end of the series it was attracting around 300,000 viewers per episode.
From 2005, Noel presented almost 3,000 episodes of the show, in which contestants win prize money by choosing from 22 red boxes of different amounts.
He handed out £40 million in winnings, although only eight entrants got the £250,000 jackpot.