A question worth £500,000 on the popular ITV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has proven so challenging that even experts in the field cannot answer it correctly, and host Jeremy Clarkson admitted he was equally clueless. The show, which tests contestants on general knowledge across topics such as history, geography, and sport, features escalating difficulty, with the top prize of £1 million at question 15. However, a recent episode included a particularly tough question that left viewers and professionals stumped.
The Question That Baffled Everyone
David Stewart, a sports betting content producer and journalist, shared his confusion on social media after watching the episode. He posted a photo of the question on his television, which read: "According to the Guinness World Records, which of these has travelled at over 260 miles per hour during a competitive game or match? A) Tennis ball, B) Ice hockey puck, C) Badminton shuttlecock, D) Table tennis ball." Despite his background in sports, Stewart admitted he would have guessed incorrectly. He wrote: "Still staggered at this £500,000 question. I'd have been all in on ice puck and shown to be clueless."
Jeremy Clarkson's Reaction
The show's host, Jeremy Clarkson, also confessed his ignorance, replying to Stewart's post: "Me too." This admission from the famously opinionated presenter underscored just how difficult the question was, even for those who might be expected to know the answer.
The Correct Answer
The correct answer is a badminton shuttlecock. According to the Guinness World Records, the fastest badminton hit by a male is currently 351 mph, achieved by India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy in Soka, Japan, in 2023. During professional matches, shuttlecocks easily exceed 250 mph, and the in-game competition record stands at roughly 265 mph, which the question specifically referenced. This makes the shuttlecock the fastest moving object in any sport.
Public Reactions
Reactions to the answer were mixed. Some commenters admitted they would have chosen the ice hockey puck, which also travels at high speeds. One person wrote: "Wouldn't have guessed shuttlecock in four tries." However, others pointed out the logic behind the answer, noting that a puck travelling at such speeds would be lethal. Another commenter said: "If a puck was travelling at that speed and hit someone, it would kill them, that's how you know it's not that. Shuttlecock was an easy answer." A third viewer shared: "I knew the answer and got laughed at by my family, until Jeremy revealed that I was correct."
