A TELEVISION contestant from North Wales smashed his car into a bus after gambling away prizes worth thousands of pounds - and was then arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
Billy King, of Conwy, was a guest on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway where he won five mystery prizes - including a trip to Hawaii and a car.
But in a bid to take all 20 prizes on offer he gambled his winnings - and lost.
Instead of walking away with holidays in Hawaii and Spain, two cars, £2,000 cash, a computer, television and hi-fi, the unemployed 40-year-old left empty-handed.
Mr King was so upset staff at the show took him backstage to console him. Soon afterwards, he crashed his Ford Sierra into a London bus outside ITV's studio.
He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and bailed without charge. No one was hurt in the accident which left Mr King's car and the bus damaged.
Programme spokeswoman Debbie Wilson said: "Billy was so upset at losing the prizes we thought we had better look after him.
"We offered him a hotel and a car, which we wouldn't normally do, but the next thing we knew he got in his own car and crashed.
"He is kicking himself at the moment and just wants to put the whole thing behind him."
Millions of viewers watched Mr King lose his winnings by saying actress Nicole Kidman was born in Australia. She was born in Hawaii.
During the game - Win The Ads - contestants answer questions for mystery prizes and are given the opportunity to gamble what they have won for the rest of the prizes.
Every contestant in the current series has gambled but Mr King was the only the second person to lose.
The prizes are selected from items advertised during programmes
broadcast over the previous week meaning razor blades, dog food and toilet rolls as well as holidays and cars are up for grabs.
Ms Wilson said: "That is why most people gamble - they do not know what they have won.
"Billy was so gutted and was very unlucky to lose those prizes."
