Reuben’s Retreat founders Nicola and Mike Graham said their recent appearance on ITV’s The 1% Club was one of the most nerve-wracking but most fun experiences of their lives.
The pair were among 100 contestants and have been inundated with messages from friends and colleagues from the travel industry after featuring on this Saturday’s show, with Nicola even appearing in the programme’s trailer.
The industry professionals set up Reuben’s Retreat ten years ago after the death of their son Reuben and would have donated their winnings to the charity had they won.
The quiz whittles down the number of contestants with each question and the last person left in has a chance to win up to £100,000.
In the event Nicola made it half way through the show and told presenter Lee Mack she was going to “dine out” on the fact she had lasted longer than her husband.
“I said to Mike I didn’t care how I did as long as I beat him,” she said. “He’s always said he’s in the top 2% of the country and as a grammar school boy he dumbed down to marry a comprehensive school girl!”
Mike initially surprised his wife by telling her he had entered them into the new TV show, which involved the pair being interviewed prior to being picked to take part.
They received a call from ITV just a few days ahead of filming to tell them they were successfully through to the final 100 to take part in the show.
“We were out walking up a hill when we got the call on a Sunday about filming on the Tuesday at ITV’s Salford studios,” said Nicola, adding: “We were really nervous. We were not even sat together. I got sweaty palms, I’m not good under pressure.”
She immediately realised she had incorrectly answered her question, which asked the second letter in the alphabet after A that looked the same in the mirror. The correct answer was H, but Nicola put I. She said: “I just panicked. I was running out of time and just pressed enter. I realised as soon I put it that it was H.”
Mike was knocked out by the second quiz question, and admitted to host Lee Mack: “I couldn’t believe it. In fact I still didn’t even know the answer after you said the answer.”
Speaking afterwards he said: “It was a brilliant experience,” joking: “My lifelong dream is to be a game show host. This is up there as one of the highlights of my life, better than my wedding day!”
Mike will get his chance to host a game show at Reuben Retreat’s next charity event, its REUball 2022 on July 9. Tickets are available on the charity’s website for the event, which includes a three course meal and entertainment, at the Bolton Whites Hotel in Bolton.