A VALLEYS-based professional wrestler who has appeared on the hit TV programme Deal Or No Deal has said it has given him a boost in his career.

Gavin Watkins, who goes by the wrestling name Flash Morgan Webster, applied to be on the show last year to help gain money to further his career.

The Nantyglo-born wrestler, who now lives in Stafford, works for several companies up and down the UK as well as Europe.

He said: “At that moment in time I wasn’t getting full time work like I am now and while I was looking, I ended up on the Deal or No Deal website, and applied to be on it.

“I didn’t really expect to be chosen, but I guess they liked my story. I had just moved up to Stafford and wasn’t wrestling full time so I needed a part time job for stability.

“I said that I needed the money to keep myself stable while looking for a dream job but if I didn’t win then at least I would be on national TV!”

Mr Watkins has appeared on 23 episodes opening boxes for other contestants, but the episode of him being a contestant will be aired next Tuesday (October 25).

The 26-year-old said: “My episodes were filmed back in April 2015 but are only now being aired, since then I've gone on to compete for WWE and I’ve even got verified on Twitter but Deal or No Deal seems to be the thing most of the people back home care about.”

Working independently with a lot of companies has enabled Mr Watkins to travel across the world.

He has travelled to 12 countries so far to compete in wrestling matches, and believes that after his Deal or No Deal episode is shown the appearance will further his career even more.

The episode will be shown on Tuesday, October 25 at 3pm on Channel 4.