Saturday night on “The Wheel” witnessed a moment of breathtaking fortune, a win that left even the host, Michael McIntyre, utterly speechless. The show, with its iconic spinning wheel and a panel of celebrity minds, returned to deliver an evening of high stakes and unexpected twists.
This week’s panel included a vibrant mix of personalities – Ed Gamble, Jonathan Ross, Liz Bonnin, Reverend Richard Coles, Jo Brand, Francis Bourgeois, and Big Brother’s AJ Odudu – all poised to guide contestants through a gauntlet of knowledge. But it was 23-year-old Lauren who stole the show, revealing a childhood crush on McIntyre himself as she stepped into the spotlight.
Lauren found herself in the hot seat for the final question, a chance at a life-altering sum. With AJ Odudu by her side, she opted to play for the maximum prize: a staggering £106,000. The question hung in the air: What is the title of Aretha Franklin’s only number one single to date?
The choices were classic hits – “Respect,” “Say A Little Prayer,” “Sisters Doing It For Themselves,” and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” AJ, acknowledging the difficulty, admitted they were all “bangers” but confessed uncertainty about which had topped the charts.
Lauren initially leaned towards “Say A Little Prayer,” but AJ encouraged her to trust her instincts. Time dwindled, and with seconds remaining, Lauren locked in her answer: “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me.” McIntyre was visibly stunned, questioning where the answer had come from, as it hadn’t even been fully discussed.
“I don’t know,” Lauren confessed, “Just thinking. I’m scared.” It was a gamble, a leap of faith fueled by a sudden intuition. The reveal confirmed the impossible – she was right! McIntyre, astonished, declared it one of the biggest wins in the show’s history, a moment he’d “never seen anything like it.”
Lauren explained her reasoning, a surprising burst of inspiration. “I just went with what I think everyone would love and listen to,” she said, describing a sudden shift in thought from “Say A Little Prayer” to the winning answer. It was a testament to trusting her gut, a moment of pure, unexpected brilliance.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lauren expressed her joy at simply being on the show she loved, a dream fulfilled. The prize money, she revealed, would go towards a house deposit with her boyfriend and a long-awaited trip to Venice for her parents.
Viewers at home mirrored the shock and excitement, flooding social media with praise for Lauren’s incredible win. Many hailed it as a perfect example of following your intuition, a truly unforgettable moment on “The Wheel.”
