Deal or No Deal’s Noel Edmonds reveals he tried to kill himself after falling victim to HBOS fraudsters
The presenter said he owed his life to the ambulance crew and checking in at a Bristol Priory
NOEL Edmonds has revealed he tried to kill himself after falling victim to fraud.
The Deal or No Deal star, 68, said the attempt came after corrupt HBOS financiers helped destroy his former business.
He said: “Until these criminals took me to the brink of emotional annihilation, I’d always felt those who opt out by taking their own lives were selfish and cowardly.
“But having been cast into that bottomless dark space devoid of logic and reason, I have a much deeper understanding of life without hope.
"I seek no sympathy and feel no shame in admitting that on the evening of January 18, 2005, I attempted to end the overwhelming mental pain which had consumed my whole being.
“The fact I did not become another suicide statistic is solely due to the swift response of a Devon ambulance crew and compassionate support of the Priory in Bristol.”
The financiers were jailed this year for a £245million loans scam which destroyed several businesses — including Noel’s Unique Group.
Lloyds Banking Group, which rescued HBOS during the financial crisis, said in April it would begin making compensation offers to victims from a £100million pot.
Noel has urged them to speed up the process after launching a £50million-plus compensation claim.
He has asked for a meeting with Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio, but claims he has had no reply.
Lloyds has said its compensation programme is “on track”.
A spokesman said: “Our customers’ safety is of paramount importance to us.
“We have a clear policy that if a customer says they are considering taking their own life we must take action to protect them.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123 or 020 7734 2800