Millionaire Contestant Loses £1m Question in Show’s Biggest Setback
A recent episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? made headlines when contestant Nicholas Bennett lost on the £1 million question, despite using two lifelines. Bennett, a data analyst from London, had rushed through the money tree to secure a £125,000 safety net before facing the final question. Host Jeremy Clarkson presented him with the question: “Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the tale of a fairytale about three princes?”
Bennett, a University Challenge alum, was torn between four options and used his remaining lifelines to no avail. Ultimately, he picked “Yahoo” as his final answer, which turned out to be incorrect. The audience audibly gasped at the loss, as Bennett could have walked away with £500,000 instead. Clarkson expressed sympathy for the contestant, saying, “I am so sorry Nicholas, the answer is serendipity.”
The show’s history-making loss left Bennett visibly disappointed, but he maintained a positive outlook, acknowledging he still had won £125,000. Clarkson commended Bennett, saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever had a contestant I’ve enjoyed more than you.”
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has only seen seven winners of the £1 million prize since its debut in 1998, and has been revived with Clarkson as the host since 2018. The show’s format, lifelines, and high stakes continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
