Two contestants make it to £1million question in the most dramatic season of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? yet – and another suffers one of the biggest losses in show’s history.
The 36th series of the ITV show premiered in December last year with a festive episode which saw Celebrity Traitor Joe Marler and comedian Katherine Ryan take to the hot seat.
The programme, which was created by David Briggs, Steven Knight, Mike Whitehill, is set to return to our screens later this month, and it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty successful series.
Not one, but two players make it to the final question for the incredible life-changing cash prize – which has only been done by six former contestants over the past 28 years.
Will they be able to join the £1 million winners club?
Judith Keppel got her hands on the cash in 2000, followed by David Edwards and Robert Brydges the following year.
TWO contestants make it to £1million question in the most dramatic season of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? yet – and another suffers one of the biggest losses in show’s history
Pat Gibson was crowned winner in 2004, and Ingram Wilcox got hold of the money in 2006.
The sixth winner, Donald Fear, was very recent and won back in 2020.
But unfortunately it’s not all good news for those taking part.
The channel also revealed that one contestant loses £186,000 while in the studio with host Jeremy Clarkson.
Speaking about the upcoming episodes, Jeremy said: ‘I think this may be my favourite series so far.
‘Seeing two people get to the £1 million question was extraordinary.
‘When they’re sitting there on that final question the tension in the studio is incredible, you can really feel it. Can’t wait for people to watch it.’
ITV’s official press release has labelled the upcoming series ‘the most suspenseful runs the show has delivered in years’.
‘Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the nail-biting new series will see contestants once again attempt to climb the famous Million Pound Money Ladder, using their lifelines – Ask the Audience, 50:50, Ask the Host and Phone a Friend – in a bid to secure life-changing winnings,’ it adds
‘Whilst details of the contestants and their gameplay are being kept tightly under wraps, viewers will be left wondering whether one or more contestants will join the elite group of contestants who have won the coveted £1 million prize in the show’s UK history.
‘The new run begins with a gripping opening episode that sets the tone for a series packed with tension, high-stakes decisions and unforgettable moments.’
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire first aired in 1998.
At the time, Chris Tarrant presented the show, and he did so until 2014.
After a four-year hiatus, the programme returned to our screens on ITV in 2018, but with a different presenter – Top Gear star Jeremy.
The show is currently airing series 35 on our screens.
Jeremy was stumped twice as the ‘ask the host’ lifelines spectacularly backfired on him.
Finance consultant Milan Pathak, from West Hampstead, took to the hot seat in a bid to go home with the cash prize.
But there was one question in particular, for £32,000, which left him scratching his head and he had to use not one, but two of his lifelines.
Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: ‘Which king of England was known as the Merry Monarch?’
The options were: William I, Edward VI, Charles II and John.
Milan confessed: ‘Not sure, not sure at all. So we use another lifeline here. I actually would like to ask you Jeremy.’
Jeremy then went on to explain what he thought about the four options, explaining that William I was the conqueror, not ‘particularly merry’, and described John as ‘Mr Magna Carta’.
He said of Charles II: ‘How can you be happy with your dad’s head rolling down the hall?’
The presenter then confessed that he knew nothing about Edward VI.
Jeremy confessed: ‘I’ve given you all I can give I’m afraid, that’s my final answer.’
He then had to use his ‘phone a friend’ lifeline and decided to go with Edward VI.
The correct answer was in fact Charles II.
‘I have cost you nothing, which is annoying, I would have liked to have banked something,’ Jeremy said.
Milan went away with £32,000 in his pocket.
Shortly after, digital client service analyst Aisling Carolan, from Edinburgh, was another player who wanted Jeremy’s help.
For £1,000, Aisling was asked: ‘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.
‘I think Kirstie and Phil is… no I can’t remember the name of it now… I don’t think it’s that.
‘Could I ask you please?’ Aisling said.
‘You can indeed, and here is what I think,’ Jeremy told her.
‘This is the industry I work in and all I really know for sure is it is not Kevin McCloud. He’s Grand Designs.’
Aisling said: ‘I think Kirstie and Phil is where they try and help them buy a property. Aren’t they?’
Jeremy chimed in: ‘Isn’t Sarah Beeny always trying to do things up?
‘To be honest, I’ve never heard of George Clarke.’
Aisling confessed: ‘I never really watch much TV so…’
Jeremy said: ‘I’m going to say it’s definitely not Kevin McCloud, so go for 50/50 and that’s my final answer.’
The player decided to go with his advice and they gave the two choices of Sarah Beeny and George Clarke.
Aisling picked Sarah Beeny and it was the wrong answer.
