Jeremy Clarkson's Millionaire Missteps Leave Viewers Perplexed
Fans of the iconic quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire were left utterly baffled during a recent episode, as host Jeremy Clarkson stumbled not once, but twice, failing to provide correct answers to contestants' questions. The 65-year-old presenter, who has helmed the ITV programme since 2018, found himself in hot water with viewers after a series of on-air blunders.
A Night of High Stakes and Missed Opportunities
The episode, which aired on ITV, featured a lineup of hopeful contestants vying for the coveted £1 million cash prize. Solicitor Rosemary Owen opened the show, having previously secured £64,000, but opted to take the money rather than risk her £125,000 question. Alasdair Brooks fared better, walking away with £125,000 after a successful run.
However, the drama truly unfolded with contestant Milan Pathak from West Hampstead. When a history question about the 'merry monarch' stumped him, he used his lifelines, including 'ask the host'. Clarkson incorrectly identified the answer, failing to name Charles II, which led Milan to depart with £32,000.
TV Trivia Trouble for Clarkson
The climax of the evening came with Aisling Carolan from Edinburgh, whose niche knowledge of peppers had initially served her well. Yet, she too sought Clarkson's assistance with a television trivia question: "What precedes '...Amazing Spaces' in the title of a Channel 4 property series?"
After ruling out options like Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, and with Clarkson admitting he'd never heard of George Clarke, Aisling used a 50/50 lifeline. Left with Sarah Beeny or George Clarke, she chose Beeny—which was incorrect. Social media erupted with disbelief at Clarkson's lack of knowledge.
Viewer Backlash and Clarkson's Comeback
Fans took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their astonishment. One viewer questioned, "How did Jeremy Clarkson not know it was George Clarke's Amazing Spaces?" while another echoed, "Surely he's heard of George Clarke." References to the earlier Charles II error also surfaced, with comments like, "Noooo Jeremy! It's Charles II."
This episode marked Clarkson's return to ITV, following a shout-out on Britain's Got Talent the previous day. The Hawkstone Farmer’s Choir, assembled by Clarkson for his show Clarkson’s Farm, moved audiences with a performance of Elbow's 'One Day Like This', earning Amanda Holden's Golden Buzzer.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? continues its run, airing next Sunday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, leaving fans wondering if Clarkson will redeem himself in future episodes.
