Few game shows have sparked as many living-room debates as Deal or No Deal. For over a decade, viewers watched contestants weigh the Banker’s offer against the chance of something bigger — and now, with Stephen Mulhern at the helm on ITV, the conversation has started all over again. The 2026 plans for the UK series remain unconfirmed, but Australia has already locked in its own revival. Here’s what we know about the hosts, the application process, and the biggest wins in the show’s history.

4 related posts

Original host: Noel Edmonds ·
Revival host: Stephen Mulhern ·
Original run (UK): 2005–2016 ·
Revival started (UK): 2023 ·
Prize pool (Australia 2026): $100,000

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Noel Edmonds hosted the original Channel 4 run from 2005 to 2016 (Wikipedia).
  • Stephen Mulhern has hosted the ITV revival since 20 November 2023 (Wikipedia).
  • An Australian revival is scheduled for 2026 on Network 10 (Radio Times).
2What’s unclear
  • Whether a new UK series will air in 2026.
  • Who will host the Australian 2026 version.
  • Exact premiere date for the Australian 2026 series.
3Timeline signal
  • Original series: 31 October 2005 to 23 December 2016 (Wikipedia).
  • ITV revival premiered: 20 November 2023 (Deadline).
  • Applications for series three closed 21 November 2025; new episodes due in 2026 (Rayo).
4What’s next
  • Series two resumed on ITV on 5 January 2026 after a Christmas break (Hello Rayo).
  • Australian version coming to Network 10 in 2026 (Radio Times).
  • UK 2026 series not yet officially confirmed. (Hello Rayo)

Six key facts lay out the show’s footprint across decades and networks.

Fact Detail
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original network Channel 4
Current network ITV (UK), Network 10 (Australia)
Years active 2005–2016, 2023–present
Top UK prize £250,000
Top Australian prize $100,000

Will Deal or No Deal be back in 2026?

That depends on which side of the world you are asking from. The UK revival is currently airing its second series on ITV, but no official announcement has confirmed a third UK series for 2026. Australia, on the other hand, has already scheduled its return.

Is Deal or No Deal coming on in 2026?

  • Australia — yes. Network 10 has confirmed a 2026 revival with a $100,000 prize pool (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  • UK — not yet officially confirmed. The most recent series concluded with applications closing in November 2025 for what is referred to as series three, and new episodes are expected in 2026 (Rayo (UK radio platform)).

Has Deal or No Deal started again?

Yes — the ITV revival with Stephen Mulhern premiered on 20 November 2023 after a seven-year gap (Deadline (entertainment industry news)). Series two resumed on 5 January 2026, airing weekdays at 4pm on ITV1 and ITVX (Hello Rayo (regional radio station)).

When did Deal or No Deal get cancelled?

  • The original Channel 4 run ended on 23 December 2016 after 11 years on air.
  • The seven-year hiatus ended in 2023 when ITV greenlit a full series after pilot episodes recorded in 2022 (Deadline (entertainment industry news)).
Bottom line: The show is very much alive. Australia has locked in 2026, and UK viewers are watching fresh episodes as of January 2026. But an official UK 2026 series greenlight has not been issued yet.

The pattern confirms that the show’s return is assured in at least one market.

The catch

UK fans hoping for a definite 2026 series will need to wait for ITV’s official word. The Australian revival is further ahead in planning, but its host remains unnamed — leaving two major gaps in an otherwise busy revival calendar.

Who is hosting Deal or No Deal in 2026?

The answer splits cleanly between legacy and present. Noel Edmonds defined the original era; Stephen Mulhern owns the revival. The Australian 2026 seat is still open.

Who was the original host of Deal or No Deal?

  • Noel Edmonds presented the original Channel 4 series from its premiere on 31 October 2005 through to the final episode on 23 December 2016 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
  • Edmonds became synonymous with the show’s trademark phrases and the high-stakes tension between contestants and the Banker.

What illness does Stephen Mulhern have?

  • Stephen Mulhern has spoken publicly about living with a stutter. No serious or undisclosed illness has been reported in relation to his role as host (IMDb (entertainment database)).
  • He has hosted the ITV revival since its launch on 20 November 2023 and continues to front new episodes in 2026 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
Bottom line: Edmonds built the show’s legacy over 11 years; Mulhern is the face of its second life. The Australian 2026 host remains a blank slot on the roster.

The host roster thus remains split across three distinct eras, with the Australian slot still unfilled.

How to apply for Deal or No Deal in 2026?

Applications for the UK revival have followed a rolling cycle since 2023. For the Australian version, the process is handled through Network 10. Below is a step-by-step breakdown based on the most recent UK call.

  1. Visit the official broadcaster site — UK applicants go to the ITV website; Australian applicants use Network 10’s official portal (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  2. Check eligibility — You must be at least 18 years old and have the right to live or lawfully reside in the UK (including Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man) (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  3. Confirm availability — The application guidance requires contestants to be available for up to 12 weekdays of filming (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  4. Submit before the deadline — For series three, applications closed on 21 November 2025. Future deadlines will be announced on ITV’s website (Rayo (UK radio platform)).
  5. For Australian applicants — Visit Network 10’s official site and follow the posted instructions for the 2026 revival. Eligibility criteria and host details are pending.

Deal or No Deal application

  • The standard application process is free and managed through the broadcaster’s casting portal.
  • Applicants for the UK revival previously had until midnight on 3 May 2024 for one specific run (Virgin Radio (UK radio station)).
  • No application window is currently open for a UK 2026 series.

Deal or No Deal UK application 2026

  • No open call for a 2026 UK series has been announced as of January 2026.
  • The most recent application round closed on 21 November 2025 for series three (Rayo (UK radio platform)).
  • Future application dates will be published on ITV’s official casting page.
Bottom line: The application process is straightforward — meet the eligibility criteria, confirm your filming availability, and submit through the official broadcaster site. No UK 2026 window is open yet, but the Australian portal is expected to launch later in the year.

Timing remains the key variable for potential contestants in both markets.

Is Deal or No Deal still on TV?

Yes — the show is actively airing in both the UK and Australia, and new episodes continue to be produced.

Deal or No Deal today

  • UK: New episodes air weekdays at 4pm on ITV1 (Hello Rayo (regional radio station)).
  • Australia: The show is returning in 2026 on Network 10.
  • The ITV revival is currently in its second series, which resumed on 5 January 2026.

Deal or No Deal online

  • Full episodes are available to stream on ITVX in the UK (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  • Australian viewers will be able to stream the revival via Network 10’s online platform.
  • Clips and full episodes are also available on YouTube and other official channels.
Bottom line: Deal or No Deal is very much live — airing daily on ITV in the UK and returning to Australian screens in 2026. Streaming options on ITVX and Network 10’s platform make it accessible beyond linear broadcast.

The digital footprint ensures the show reaches audiences well beyond traditional television.

Who is the biggest winner in Deal or No Deal history?

The biggest confirmed UK winner took home £250,000 — the top prize on the board. The US version once offered $1,000,000, while the Australian 2026 revival caps its prize pool at $100,000.

What are the biggest banker offers in Deal or No Deal history?

  • UK: The largest Banker offer matched the top prize at £250,000 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
  • US: The top prize on the American version was $1,000,000.
  • Australia: The 2026 revival has a confirmed prize cap of $100,000 (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
Bottom line: The UK record stands at £250,000. The Banker has rarely been more generous than that on British screens. The Australian 2026 cap at $100,000 sets a different ceiling for the new market.

The prize cap tells you something about the show’s strategy in each market.

Why this matters

The prize cap tells you something about the show’s strategy in each market. The UK top prize has held steady for years, while Australia’s $100,000 cap suggests a calibrated risk for its relaunch.

Timeline of Deal or No Deal

Four key dates mark the show’s journey from Channel 4 hit to ITV revival and international expansion.

  • 31 October 2005 — Deal or No Deal premieres on Channel 4 with host Noel Edmonds (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
  • 23 December 2016 — Original series ends after 11 years (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
  • 20 November 2023 — Revival debuts on ITV, hosted by Stephen Mulhern (Deadline (entertainment industry news)).
  • 2026 — Australian version announced on Network 10; host not yet revealed (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
Bottom line: The show has had three distinct lives — the original 11-year run on Channel 4, the ITV revival from 2023, and the upcoming Australian debut in 2026. Each phase has its own host and network.

The timeline underscores the show’s resilience across changing broadcast landscapes.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Separating the certain from the speculative helps cut through the noise around the show’s future.

Confirmed facts

  • Noel Edmonds was the original host of the UK version (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).
  • Stephen Mulhern has hosted the UK revival since 2023 (IMDb (entertainment database)).
  • An Australian revival is scheduled for 2026 on Network 10 (Radio Times (UK entertainment outlet)).
  • Series two resumed on ITV on 5 January 2026 (Hello Rayo (regional radio station)).
  • The top UK prize is £250,000 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).

What’s unclear

  • Whether a new UK series will air in 2026.
  • Who will host the Australian version.
  • The exact premiere date of the Australian 2026 series.
  • Whether the UK top prize will increase for future series.
  • Whether the Australian revival will have the same number of briefcases as the UK version.

The balance of knowns and unknowns reflects the show’s transitional phase.

Quotes on Deal or No Deal

“Deal or No Deal was originally presented by Noel Edmonds from 31 October 2005 to 23 December 2016 on Channel 4, and then by Stephen Mulhern from 20 November 2023 on ITV.”

Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)

“The iconic TV series is back but with a brand-new setting! Watch contestants battle it out against the notorious Banker.”

ITV (UK broadcaster)

“Deal or No Deal, the exhilarating hit game show where contestants must beat the Banker to win a huge cash prize of $100,000, is making a triumphant return to 10.”

Network 10 Australia (commercial broadcaster)

The revival’s momentum is real, but the gaps in the 2026 calendar leave room for both optimism and caution. UK viewers have new episodes airing now; Australian fans know their show is coming, just not who will host it or exactly when the first episode lands. For ITV, the decision to commission a full 2026 series will likely depend on how the current run performs in the ratings. For Network 10, the clock is ticking to name a host and lock in a premiere date. The game show that built its identity on uncertainty is, fittingly, keeping a few secrets of its own.

Additional sources

imdb.com, radiotimes.com, facebook.com, facebook.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

What channel is Deal or No Deal on?

In the UK, it airs on ITV1 and streams on ITVX. In Australia, the revival will broadcast on Network 10.

How long is a typical Deal or No Deal episode?

Standard episodes run for approximately 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the network and scheduling.

Can I play Deal or No Deal online for free?

Yes — several free online versions and mobile apps replicate the game format. Official broadcaster sites do not offer a playable version.

How many models carry the briefcases in the UK version?

The UK version typically features 22 models, each carrying a briefcase containing a cash value.

What is the highest possible prize in Deal or No Deal UK?

The top prize on the UK version is £250,000 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)).

Is Stephen Mulhern the permanent host of the revival?

Mulhern has hosted the revival since its 2023 launch and continues to front the current series. No replacement has been announced.

Are there any spin-off versions of Deal or No Deal?

Several international adaptations exist, including versions in the US, Australia, Germany, France, and India. The US version notably offered a $1,000,000 top prize.

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