In a surprising turn of events on Sunday's episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, host Jeremy Clarkson found himself stumped not once, but twice, as contestants' attempts to use the 'ask the host' lifeline spectacularly backfired. The ITV quiz show, which airs weekly, witnessed two separate players relying on Clarkson's knowledge only to receive incorrect guidance that cost them potential winnings.
Banking Consultant's Costly Question
The first contestant, Milan Pathak, a banking and finance consultant from West Hampstead, faced a challenging question for £32,000. Host Jeremy Clarkson posed the query: 'Which king of England was known as the Merry Monarch?' with options including William I, Edward VI, Charles II, and John. Milan, uncertain of the answer, decided to use his lifeline to ask the host.
Clarkson proceeded to analyze each option, stating that William I was the conqueror and not 'particularly merry,' while describing John as 'Mr Magna Carta.' Regarding Charles II, he remarked, 'How can you be happy with your dad's head rolling down the hall?' and admitted he knew nothing about Edward VI. Ultimately, Clarkson confessed, 'I've given you all I can give I'm afraid, that's my final answer.'
Milan then used his 'phone a friend' lifeline and selected Edward VI based on Clarkson's limited input. However, the correct answer was Charles II, leaving Clarkson to lament, 'I have cost you nothing, which is annoying, I would have liked to have banked something.' Despite the misstep, Milan secured £32,000.
Second Contestant's Unfortunate Guess
Shortly after, digital client service analyst Aisling Carolan from Edinburgh encountered a £1,000 question: 'What precedes '... Amazing Spaces' in the title of a Channel 4 property series?' The options were Kevin McCloud's, Kirstie and Phil's, Sarah Beeny's, or George Clarke's. Aisling turned to Clarkson for assistance, saying, 'Could I ask you please?'
Clarkson responded, 'This is the industry I work in and all I really know for sure is it is not Kevin McCloud. He's Grand Designs.' After some discussion, where Aisling suggested Kirstie and Phil might be involved in property buying and Clarkson noted Sarah Beeny's renovation focus while admitting he'd never heard of George Clarke, he advised, 'I'm going to say it's definitely not Kevin McCloud, so go for 50/50 and that's my final answer.'
Aisling followed his advice, and after the 50/50 lifeline narrowed it down to Sarah Beeny and George Clarke, she chose Sarah Beeny. This proved incorrect, with Clarkson apologizing, 'Oh I am sorry. That is awful. You're leaving here with £1000!'
Viewer Reactions and Social Media Buzz
The double blunder sparked a wave of reactions on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Users expressed shock and amusement at Clarkson's lack of knowledge, with comments such as 'Jeremy Clarkson didn't know Charles II was the 'Merry Monarch'? Seriously?' and 'How did Jeremy Clarkson not know it was George Clarkes Amazing Spaces.' Others humorously noted, 'Jeremy not helping at all 2 times in a row tonight,' and 'Absolutely no idea Cheers Jeremy.'
This episode highlighted the unpredictable nature of quiz shows, where even experienced hosts like Jeremy Clarkson can falter under pressure. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? continues to air on Sundays on ITV1 and is available for streaming on ITVX, offering viewers more chances to witness such dramatic moments.
