MILLION Pound Pawn guest broke down in tears after she sold her uncle’s watch to pay for her son’s life-changing surgery.
The first episode of the brand new ITV series hit our screens last night and it certainly didn’t leave a dry eye in sight.
The current coronavirus pandemic has left many people struggling to get by, meaning that many have turned to pawnbrokers to help in their time of need.
While some guests appeared on the show to fund their luxury lifestyle, others were in need of money to help their loved ones.
Pawn broker Dan Hatfield made a home visit to a 52-year-old woman called Fran Sawyer, who was in desperate need of some cash.
Fran is a full-time carer for her son 16-year-old Alexander, who was born with a cancerous tumour on his back.
She decided to get in touch with Dan to see if he could give her any money for two of her family heirlooms – a Patek Philippe watch and a set of diamond earrings.
Her uncle told her if she ever needed some cash, the watch would be there to use, and she got the other piece of jewellery from her great grandmother.
Fran said she’d like £2,000 for the sparkly earrings and over £15,000 for the watch because she needs to pay for Alex’s upcoming operations.
Dan asked: “You said you’d need £15,000 for that [the watch]?”
Fran replied: “Well I have to take him to a nurse specialist, that costs a lot more, to get him a decent life.”
She then told the camera: “It’s been so tough for him, but now he’s 16, I can get help for him and that help has got to be done very, very soon or I will lose him.”
The mum added: “I think that’s my gold pot to help my boy get a better quality of life.”
Dan went back to the shop to do his research as he was concerned Fran’s uncle could have got his hand on a fake, considering he won it during a game of poker.
After getting confirmation that it was the real deal from his watch expert Josh, Dan met up with Fran to tell her the good news.
At their next meeting Dan told Fran: “Thankfully this is a real Patek Philippe.”
And a happy Fran replied: “You’re joking?!”
“It’s actually quite a special model, I’d be prepared to pay for this watch £85,000,” he told her.
Fran couldn’t believe what she was hearing and told the pawnbroker to “stop messing about!”
She told Dan: “That will help so much. I’ve been struggling so much for sixteen years with my boy being ill.
“That would just be life changing for us.”
She also managed to get £70,000 for her earrings.
Viewers took to Twitter to congratulate Fran on the good news.
One wrote: “Ahhhh Fran on million pound pawn how lovely was she and so happy for her xx.”
Another said: “@fransawyer_1 loved you on million pound pawn ! I was so happy for you ! Xxx well done @fransawyer_1 xxx.”
A third chimed in: “Anyone watch Million Pound Pawn??? The Patek Phillipe and the Diamond Earrings?!?!?!?! Got £85k for a watch that her uncle left. Said he won it in a card game and she should sell it she ever needs p. Her son needs a life saving so God Bless them both!! What an uncle though.”
Million Pound Pawn continues on Tuesday, March 2 at 9pm on ITV.
