The situation descended into chaos when Reece left the stage in tears alongside his girlfriend Leslie. One audience member stood up and branded the spectacle “disgusting,” only to be hushed by those around her.
Following the dramatic ad break, Mr Walsh revealed the entire performance had been staged. The contestants, floor manager, and even the outraged heckler were all actors. The studio audience, however, had been completely unaware.
The final half of the show saw Mr Walsh speak to gambling experts about how advertising techniques can manipulate audiences, as well as hearing from the man who inspired the character of Reece.
Patrick, a primary school teacher whose gambling addiction consumed 13 years of his life, accumulated roughly £250,000 in debt through loans and credit cards, at one point holding 76 separate online betting accounts.