Jeremy Clarkson was at the helm of ITV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire as one contestant made a mistake that ‘cost her the jackpot’.

The critical question, which viewers have since described as “not even that hard,” pushed the contestant to take a gamble rather than walk away with the safety of £125,000.

Despite Clarkson’s trademark raised eyebrow and repeated offers of caution, the contestant insisted on playing the game to win. When the wrong answer was revealed, Clarkson delivered the blow with his signature mix of sympathy and sharp wit, announcing: “That’s the one answer you didn’t want to give.”

Gasps filled the studio audience, with some spectators visibly clutching their heads in disbelief. Clarkson himself admitted he was stunned by the decision to risk so much money without being completely sure.

“You were one answer away from a million,” he said quietly, before shaking his head. “Now you’re walking away with just £125,000.” The stark contrast between what could have been and what was left on the table had fans at home wincing in second-hand pain.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire aired a new episode on ITV (Image: ITV)

Who Wants to be a Millionaire infuriated fans at home this evening as a brand new episode hit screens. The much loved ITV quiz show, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, saw more players test their wits and general knowledge as they tried to bag the £1million jackpot.

First up was Jackie, who was successful in answering the Fastest Finger round correctly with the quickest time. But just a few questions in, the player had already used all of her lifelines – much to the dismay of viewers at home.

The moment has already been branded one of the most shocking in Clarkson’s run as host. While the show has seen its fair share of big wins and devastating losses, the sheer size of the drop—and the fact that the contestant had come so close to the ultimate prize—has cemented this blunder in Millionaire history. Fans are comparing it to other infamous moments in game show lore, calling it a “tragedy of epic proportions” that will be remembered for years to come.

The contestant’s loss also sparked a fresh debate about the psychology of the game. Should players risk it all for the glory of being a millionaire, or is walking away with hundreds of thousands of pounds already a victory? Clarkson himself weighed in during a post-game chat, suggesting that the lure of the million can cloud judgment. “It’s easy to say from your sofa at home, but when you’re sat here, with the lights, the cameras, and the jackpot staring at you, it does something to your brain,” he explained.

While the controversial move helped her get to the £125,000 point unscathed, it meant that she had to rely on her own knowledge to make it to a million.

It was at that point that Jackie decided to use her safety net – meaning that if she got the next questions wrong, she would still have thousands of pounds in her bank.

However, on the next question when it came to sports, Jackie was stumped. She was asked about Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 boxing fight, but had absolutely no idea what the answer would be.

Jackie used all of her lifelines ‘too early’ (Image: ITV)

She chose not to take a guess as she said she would accept the money and leave. But fans shunned her and claimed she could have got much further, with some even saying she could have bagged the jackpot, had she not made an “expensive mistake” by using all of her lifelines so early in the game.

Taking to X/Twitter, one user wrote: “She could have gone all the way if she used the lifelines smarter #wwtbam.”

Another added: “And this is why you shouldn’t waste your lifelines on easy questions. #whowantstobeamillionaire,” while a third penned: “#WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire That was a waste of a lifeline.”

Someone else said: “3 lifelines wasted #WWTBAM.” One more added: “Well that was a very expensive lesson #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire.”

While some tactics are disliked by fans at home, the ITV show goes to great measures to prevent any cheating on the show – following Charles Ingram coughing his way to £1million in 2001.

Jackie went home with £125,000 extra in her bank (Image: ITV)

He became one of the first and only people to win the maximum prize. The first UK winner was Judith Keppel, a contestant who scooped up the £1 million prize in 2000.

However, it was later revealed that he had carried out a conniving scheme to bag the cash, with the help from his wife and a friend in the audience.

Fast forward 25 years and the producers now have tight measures in place to stop contestants from following in Charles’ footsteps and cheating – especially when using the life line Phone a Friend.

According to Broadcast: “A small team was put in place to oversee and deploy fully-briefed security officers to each person’s home to ensure fair play. The need for this added a new financial and logistical aspect to the budget.”

The latest episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has left fans across the nation in shock after a contestant made a jaw-dropping error that cost them a staggering £875,000. Viewers were left yelling at their screens as the hopeful player’s jackpot dreams evaporated in a matter of seconds, with social media exploding over what many have dubbed one of the most “painful blunders” in the show’s recent history.

The contestant, who had been sailing through the money ladder with an impressive display of knowledge and composure, found themselves one question away from securing a life-changing £1 million. With the studio tense and Jeremy Clarkson leaning forward in anticipation, the player had a golden opportunity to etch their name into Millionaire history. But what seemed like a confident response turned into a nightmare when they locked in the wrong answer, instantly reducing their winnings by £875,000.

Viewers quickly took to social media to vent their frustration and heartbreak. One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “£875k GONE in seconds—I’m screaming at the telly! Why wouldn’t you just walk away?!” Another added: “That was the most stressful episode I’ve ever watched. I need a lie down after that.” Others sympathised with the contestant, noting the pressure of the hot seat can make even the brightest minds second-guess themselves.

Meanwhile, fans remain divided. Some applauded the contestant’s bravery, arguing that taking the risk embodied the true spirit of the game. “Better to go out swinging than to play it safe,” one supporter commented. But others couldn’t help but call it reckless. “£125k is life-changing money—risking £875k when you weren’t sure is madness,” another wrote.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: this episode has reignited passion for the long-running show, proving that even after decades on air, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? can still deliver heart-stopping drama. For the contestant, it may take time to recover from the sting of what could have been. For the fans, it was a night of pure adrenaline—one that will have them yelling at their TVs for a long time to come.