The host of the UK’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was left open-mouthed after a contestant chanced his arm on the £1million jackpot question, and lost.
Jeremy Clarkson (who also presents Amazon hit Clarkson’s Farm) was asking the questions as contestant Nicholas Bennett breezed through the early rounds of his challenge and found himself in possession of two lifelines as he faced his final £1million question.
He had alread guaranteed to go home with £125,000, but decided to lay it all on the line as he faced the question:
“Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the title of a fairytale about three princes: Pandamonium, Serendipity, Utopia or Yahoo?”
Bennett used his first lifeline to ask the host, but Clarkson admitted he had no idea, saying: “I can’t think of a fairytale that’s about three princes.”
The contestant then phoned a friend, his flatmate Meg, who said she didn’t know either. Bennett could have stuck with his £500,000 win, but decided to go for it, nonetheless, with Clarkson reminding him:
“£375,000 is what you’re gambling. I know you still go away with a lot but…”
Bennett then gave ‘Yahoo’ as his final answer – prompting a round of grimacing noises from the audience.
Sadly for him, he’d guessed wrong. The right answer was ‘Serendipity’, and Bennett’s error meant he went home “only” with his previously pocketed £125,000, a result with which he seemed content enough. While the audience groaned, Bennett smiled: “Still got £125,000.”
Clarkson told him:
“A couple things I’m trying to work out is, is that the biggest loss we’ve had in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire history, and I don’t think I’ve had a contestant that I’ve enjoyed more than you.”
