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Best Swindon TV show contestants over the years

Best Swindon TV show contestant appearances over the years
Best Swindon TV show contestant appearances over the years

Love Island is the most talked-about show at the moment so, when Swindon's Lacey Edwards entered the villa, it was almost guaranteed she would make a name for herself.

But Lacey is not the only Swindon resident to appear on our screens as a TV show contestant.

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People representing the town have been successful (and less successful) on shows ranging from The Apprentice to Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

There are more appearances than you might think.

Here is a rundown of stand-out appearances from Swindon contestants over the years:

The Apprentice

Kathryn Burn was dubbed "smart and sassy" on this year's The Apprentice after she stormed to the final with her matching pyjama set business.

The savvy businesswoman just lost out on the £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar and finished as runner-up.

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Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Tim Westcott, a company treasurer from Westlea, won £125,000 on ITV’s millionaire gameshow in 2006.

Tim, who appeared in series 19 of the popular show, walked away from the £250,000 question ‘Which of the Asian capitals lies closes to the Tropic of Cancer?’

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The X Factor

Jahméne Douglas used to live in Wroughton and work in an Asda supermarket in Swindon before he rose to fame on The X Factor in 2012.

He ended up finishing the competition in second place behind James Arthur. He signed a record deal with Sony Music afterwards and his album Love Never Fails peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Despite his success, he has since advised singers not to go on the show.

Swindon Advertiser: Stuart Harrison 15/12/14.Jahmene Douglas pictured visiting the Asda store at the Orbital Centre Swindon where he once worked before he appeared in the X-Factor in 2012..
Swindon Advertiser: Stuart Harrison 15/12/14.Jahmene Douglas pictured visiting the Asda store at the Orbital Centre Swindon where he once worked before he appeared in the X-Factor in 2012..

Stuart Harrison 15/12/14.Jahmene Douglas pictured visiting the Asda store at the Orbital Centre Swindon where he once worked before he appeared in the X-Factor in 2012..

In a YouTube video, he said: “X Factor isn’t a singing competition, it’s a reality TV show, I realised who I was on it. They didn’t care about my singing, they care about the story behind you.

“When I went on the show, it wasn’t about the story that I had, it was about my voice. That’s what I wanted to push.

“Traumatising? Yes. Would I recommend X Factor to a singer singer? No.”

The Chase

Joanna Tweedale, a recruitment manager at Nationwide from Wanborough, appeared on popular gameshow The Chase in February this year.

Joanna, who is a big fan of presenter Bradley Walsh, decided to apply for the ITV show to tick something off her bucket list.

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She was a contestant on The Weakest Link a few years ago but wasn’t successful on that occasion.

And unfortunately, she crashed out in the first round of The Chase this year.

The show's host said: "You are going to be sorely missed in the final because you are a good player."

Countdown

Teenager Daaniyal Ali beat four other adults to win four episodes of Countdown last year.

The New College student from Tadpole Garden Village appeared on the show in September and brought humour to the show when he told presenter Anne Robbinson she was too old to go clubbing with him.

Swindon Advertiser: Image: New College
Swindon Advertiser: Image: New College

Image: New College

The presenter, along with colleagues Rachel Riley and Susie Dent were impressed with Daaniyal’s ability to remember what day of the week any date from the past was, and which notable figures may have been born on that specific day.

Big Brother

Glamour model and television presenter Melinda Messenger is one of Swindon’s most famous faces.

She appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice, and with her family on All Star Family Fortunes.

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But she has also hosted a number of game shows including To Buy or Not To Buy and Fort Boyard.

She still appears on celebrity specials of The Chase and The Jump from time to time.

Thaila Zucchi began her career in British band allSTARS before her appearances on Channel 4’s Balls of Steel and Big Brother. In Big Brother, she pretended to be Pauline, a housemate from Australian Big Brother but was working as a mole.

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Come Dine With Me

Mark Farrow, business manager Sarah Louise Moore, Imelda Smith and spiritualist Annette Storey competed in a Come Dine With Me episode set in Swindon in 2009.

Mark and Annette clashed after Mark made some “rude” remarks at dinner. He later tried to atone for his behaviour by offering Annette some hot chocolate with brandy.

But the peace offering wasn’t enough to help Mark clinch the win as Sarah walked away with the £1,000 prize money after she score 25.

Swindon Advertiser: Image: Channel 4
Swindon Advertiser: Image: Channel 4

Image: Channel 4

“It was not about the money, it was about the experience,” Annette concluded.

Mark said: “I learned a lot of things about women this week; don’t upset them if you want to win some money.

Britain’s Got Talent

A Swindon boy and his dancing group made it all the way to this year’s Britain’s Got Talent finals.

Ollie Loveday, 11, and four other boys were labelled "heroes" by Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.

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They were widely praised for their anti-bullying message after some group members revealed in their audition they had been bullied verbally and physically because of the prejudice towards young male dancers.

Simon Cowell described the group as "gutsy".

Dragons' Den

Keeran and Vaani VetriKo pitched their unique beer brand for women to the Dragons' this year.

Although they did not receive the investment, the episode gave a "huge boost" to their company Neitiv.

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In the show, the VetriKos tried to sell them on the beverage with ‘coconut flower drops’ as its main ingredient.