A WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire player used two lifelines on the £1m question – only to lose in a devastating moment.

Producers of Millionaire have so far defended the outcome, insisting that all questions undergo rigorous vetting to ensure fairness. In a brief statement, the show’s spokesperson emphasized that “the integrity of the format is paramount” and dismissed accusations of tampering as baseless. Still, the lack of detailed explanation has done little to silence critics, who argue that the optics of the finale looked suspicious at best.

This isn’t the first time Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has faced controversy. From infamous cheating scandals to questionable judging decisions, the show’s history is peppered with moments that sparked debate about fairness. However, the scale of the current backlash suggests this may be one of the most damaging incidents in years, as it directly undermines the trust viewers place in the iconic quiz format.

Nicholas Bennett took the iconic hotseat
Credit: ITV

He reached the £1m question – and it concerned writers and words
Credit: ITV

He turned to host Jeremy for assistance
Credit: ITV
Nicholas Bennett, from West Hampstead, took to the hotseat after winning Fastest Finger First.

The University Challenge alum got through several questions with relative ease.

He soon found himself playing for the £1 million jackpot – and with two lifelines intact.

The question asked: “Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the tale of of a fairytale about three princes?”

Meanwhile, the options were A) Pandemonium, B) Serendipity, C) Utopia and D) Yahoo.

Nicholas had an early hunch that it may be Yahoo but wasn’t certain – so he opted to use his Ask Jeremy lifeline.

Unfortunately, the host wasn’t quite certain either – although his contribution did spark a thought in the player’s mind.

Nicholas remembered attending a puppet show in Spain, which was about three princes – and he had a memory of Yahoo being said.

To cover all bases, he decided to use the last lifeline – Phone A Friend – although his friend ended up not knowing the answer.

Nicholas seemed ready to give his final answer – although Jeremy reminded him that £375,000 was on the line.

Within minutes, social media erupted. Fans accused the show of manipulating the outcome to avoid handing over the grand prize.

“That question was deliberately designed to trip them up,” one viewer posted, while another declared, “The host looked as shocked as we were—something isn’t right here.”

Hashtags like #RiggedMillionaire and #FinalQuestionFix began trending, turning the contestant’s heartbreaking loss into a firestorm of suspicion.

Some eagle-eyed viewers pointed to details in the broadcast as “evidence” of foul play. They claimed the £1 million question was obscure and far more difficult than those given to previous winners.

Others argued that the timing of the question, along with the host’s hesitation before reading the correct answer, suggested backstage interference.

Theories spread quickly that the network might have been unwilling to pay out such a large prize in the current economic climate, fueling the outrage further.

Millionaire player forced to make a guess after using lifeline on ‘easy’ £2k soap question – would you have got it correct-
He opted for his initial thought, Yahoo – only to soon learn it was incorrect.

In the end, the right answer ultimately turned out to be B) Serendipity.

Nicholas didn’t let much disappointment show, as he optimistically said: “Still get £125,000.”

Speaking afterwards, Jeremy estimated: “We’ve just seen a contestant lose what we think is the biggest amount of money in Millionaire history.”

It comes as another player was forced to make a guess after using her lifeline on an ‘easy’ £2k soap question.

Television audiences were left stunned after a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? contestant lost their entire shot at £1 million in a nail-biting finale that has since spiraled into a full-blown scandal. The shocking moment, which played out live, ended with the contestant walking away empty-handed after stumbling on the final question. What should have been one of the most dramatic victories in the show’s history quickly turned into controversy, as viewers flooded social media with accusations that the game was “rigged” against the player.

The climax came as the contestant faced the £1 million question, a high-stakes query that had the host visibly tense. After deliberating carefully and using their final lifeline, the contestant locked in an answer—only for the host to reveal it was wrong. Gasps echoed across the studio as the once-celebratory atmosphere soured instantly. What shocked fans even more, however, was the way the question was framed and the host’s unusual reaction, which many said looked like genuine disbelief.

The contestant themselves has remained relatively quiet since the loss but hinted at dissatisfaction in post-show interviews. “I can’t say much, but I think everyone saw what happened,” they said cryptically. Their comments only fanned the flames of speculation, with fans now demanding transparency from the production team. Calls for an investigation into the fairness of the show have grown louder, with some viewers even threatening boycotts unless the incident is addressed.

As the scandal continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the drama of this finale will linger long after the lights went down in the studio. Whether it’s remembered as an unfortunate twist of fate or as evidence of something far more sinister, the night the millionaire dream collapsed in the final second will be etched into the show’s history. For now, fans remain divided—some clinging to the integrity of the game, others convinced that the contestant was robbed in what may go down as one of the most controversial finales in Millionaire history.

Faridah Oyetunji, a bio medical science student from Abbey Wood, struggled from the start of her game.

Despite this, she made it to her safety net of £1000 by confidently answering the next question that came along.

However, the £2000 question confused her, when Jeremy asked: “Which recurring TV soap character has been played by Lisa Riley since 1995.”

Hardest Quiz Show Questions

Would you know the answers to some of quizzing TV’s hardest questions

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – Earlier this year, fans were left outraged after what they described as the “worst” question in the show’s history. Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: “From the 2000 awards ceremony onwards, the Best Actress Oscar has never been won by a woman whose surname begins with which one of these letters?” The multiple choice answers were between G, K, M and W. In the end, and with the £32,000 safe, player Glen had to make a guess and went for G. It turned out to be correct as Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet are among the stars who have won the Best Actress gong since 2000.
The 1% Club – Viewers of Lee Mack’s popular ITV show were left dumbfounded by a question that also left the players perplexed. The query went as follows: “Edna’s birthday is on the 6th of April and Jen’s birthday falls on the 15th of October, therefore Amir’s birthday must be the ‘X’ of January.” It turns out the conundrum links the numbers with its position in the sentence, so 6th is the sixth word and 15th is the fifteenth word. Therefore, Amir’s birthday is January 24th, corresponding to the 24th word in the sentence.
The Chase – The ITV daytime favourite left fans scratching their heads when it threw up one of the most bizarre questions to ever grace the programme. One of the questions asked the player: “Someone with a nightshade intolerance should avoid eating what?” The options were – sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots – with Steve selecting sweetcorn but the correct answer was potatoes.

The choices were A. Mandy Dingle, B. Kim Tate, C. Tracy Barlow or D. Sharon Mitchell.

Faridah said: “I’ve got absolutely no clue, I’m not a soap fan.”

The host, typically known for their calm and authoritative demeanor, was visibly shaken in the aftermath. According to audience members, they appeared almost apologetic, struggling to compose themselves as the credits rolled.

One attendee described the atmosphere as “awkward and tense,” claiming that even the crew backstage seemed unsettled by how events unfolded.

For longtime fans, the host’s unusual reaction has become central to the conspiracy theories swirling online.

For the contestant, the loss is more than just financial—it’s emotional devastation. To come within touching distance of life-changing wealth only to see it vanish in an instant is a heartbreak few can imagine.

Fans have rallied around them, praising their composure under pressure and criticizing the show for what they see as unfair treatment.

Petitions are already circulating online demanding that the contestant be awarded a consolation prize or even reinstated with another chance at the jackpot.

She then decided to use her third lifeline and go 50-50 and was left with A and C – Faridah then took a guess at Mandy Dingle.

Would you have got the question right
Credit: ITV