Latest news with #UniversityChallenge
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘I hope you don't expect us to win': rival Irish University Challenge captains join forces for a fiendish pub quiz
Oscar Despard and Kevin Flanagan were recent opponents on a semi-final of the long-running BBC show. Louise McLoughlin takes them to a London pub to see how they fare with a less academic test I've never been great at pub quizzes. So the opportunity to team up with two of Ireland's best and brightest minds promised some vindication – even if only as part of a team. On a personal level, a friend had suggested beforehand that the experience had the potential to be humiliating. I suggested 'humbling' was perhaps a better word. A win is a win, after all. In all honesty, I expected my contribution to be minimal. The two other members of my team were Dubliners Oscar Despard (22) from Portobello and Kevin Flanagan (29) from Dundrum, who recently went head-to-head in the semi-finals of University Challenge. Despard, who is studying for a PhD in molecular biology, went on to lead Christ's College Cambridge to its first ever victory on the show, winning a tense final by just five points. Flanagan captained the team from Bristol University, where he is doing a PhD in AI.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' contestant suffers biggest loss in show's history
In a jaw-dropping moment on ITV's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, host Jeremy Clarkson was left stunned after a contestant's risky gamble on the £1 million jackpot question resulted in the biggest loss in the show's history. Nicholas Bennett, a University Challenge alum from West Hampstead, breezed through the earlier rounds and found himself sitting comfortably with £125,000 guaranteed when he faced the final question. -ITV. The moment turned tense as Bennett was presented with the £1 million question: "Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the tale of a fairytale about three princes?" The options were A) Pandemonium, B) Serendipity, C) Utopia, and D) Yahoo. Unsure of the answer, Bennett used his Ask Jeremy lifeline, but Clarkson admitted he had no idea. The contestant then phoned a friend, his flatmate Meg, who also couldn't provide a clear answer. Despite having £500,000 secured, Bennett decided to gamble his winnings. Clarkson, sensing the risk, warned Bennett that he was about to wager a significant sum, £375,000, on a single answer. The host's reminder that "you still go away with a lot" did little to dissuade the contestant. Bennett locked in 'Yahoo' as his final answer, but sadly, he was wrong. The correct answer was 'Serendipity,' and as a result, he walked away with £125,000—no small sum, but a fraction of what he had been on track to win. Despite the disappointment, Bennett remained remarkably composed. "Still got £125,000," he said with a smile, taking his loss in stride. Clarkson, who had clearly been invested in Bennett's journey, praised him for his approach. "A couple of things I'm trying to work out is, is that the biggest loss we've had in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire history?" he remarked. 'I don't think I've had a contestant that I've enjoyed more than you.' This dramatic episode comes as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? continues to captivate audiences with high-stakes moments and unexpected twists. The tension on the set was palpable, as viewers watched one of the show's most daring contestants risk it all for the top prize. Clarkson, known for his sharp wit and no-nonsense approach, found himself in the unusual position of reflecting on the outcome with genuine admiration for Bennett's risk-taking. For Bennett, the experience clearly had its ups and downs, but his optimistic attitude and calm demeanor won him the respect of viewers and the show's host alike. Clarkson's admiration for his contestant's courage seemed to outweigh the loss of the jackpot, as he concluded the segment with a nod to Bennett's entertaining, if ultimately unlucky, run on the show.
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire star suffers 'biggest loss in TV show's history'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant lost out on the coveted £1 million prize after a brutal twist of fate. The Jeremy Clarkson-helmed ITV show welcomed Nicholas Bennett from West Hampstead on Sunday to try his hand at securing the massive cash prize on the long-running game show. The former University Challenge star navigated through the first chunk of questions seamlessly, and before he knew it, he was facing the final question for the ultimate jackpot. 'Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the tale of a fairytale about three princes?' and the four options were: 'A) Pandemonium, B) Serendipity, C) Utopia and D) Yahoo.' Thoroughly stumped, he chose to Ask Jeremy but – unfortunately for him – the Clarkson's Farm star could shed no light on the correct answer. He then chose to Phone A Friend and, once more, hit a dead end when the friend didn't have a clue what the right choice was. In the end, just as lost as before, Nicholas went for D) Yahoo, which turned out to be wrong. The right answer was B) Serendipity. Nicholas, who could have secured the £500,00, tried to remain optimistic, saying: 'Still get £125,000.' And Clarkson couldn't believe the devastating turn of events after such a promising start. 'Oh my giddy aunt,' he said, adding about the £375,000 downgrade: 'Is that the biggest loss in Millionaire history?' Meanwhile, online, people were sharing their solidarity. 'That contestant was so good and I am actually proper gutted he didn't win the million,' @supernovadragon wrote on X. 'How can anyone be so nonchalant about losing £375k,' @celestialtalia shared. 'Unlucky mate, played it beautifully,' @doul1ehelix added. 'I actually shouted Oh No !!!! Loudly!!! Alone in the house,' @patfield said. The ex-Grand Tour star started hosting the game show (which was originally hosted by Chris Tarrant since 1998) in 2018 after a four-year hiatus. In March, he even hit back after being called 'not much help' when another contestant tried to seek guidance from him. 'Despite getting a speeding ticket in Dijon, @JeremyClarkson wasn't much help on this question, so over to #PhoneAFriend #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire,' the official X account for the show posted. To which Clarkson replied at the time: 'What do you mean I wasn't much help?!?!?!!!' It's been a year of impressive wins on the show. In January, QI presenter Sir Stephen Fry bagged a whopping £250,000 on the celebrity edition of the show. In fact, Clarkson actually did help him secure the jackpot as they both tried to figure out which major European city you would come closest to if you 'walked a straight path from Paris to Berlin' (the answer was Luxembourg City). More Trending 'Jeremy is very encouraging, and he was great with the question that took me to a quarter of a million,' Sir Stephen said in a statement via PA Wire. He continued: 'It was a geographical question, and you had to work it out. Jeremy has travelled so much, particularly in the area that the question was about. 'He and I kind of agreed that it was one of two answers, and I thought, 'I am going to risk it,' and fortunately, it was right.' View More » Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? returns to ITV1 later this year and is available to stream on ITVX. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Going on quiz shows for 25 years almost cost me my job'
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Devastating moment Who Wants To Be A Millionaire player uses two lifelines on £1m question and LOSES- could you get it?
A WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire player used two lifelines on the £1m question - only to lose in a devastating moment. Jeremy Clarkson welcomed brand new contestants to the iconic ITV game show. 4 Nicholas Bennett took the iconic hotseat Credit: ITV 4 He reached the £1m question - and it concerned writers and words Credit: ITV 4 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. 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. 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. - 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. - 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." 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. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Devastating moment Who Wants To Be A Millionaire player uses two lifelines on £1m question and LOSES- could you get it?
A WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire player used two lifelines on the £1m question - only to lose in a devastating moment. Jeremy Clarkson welcomed brand new contestants to the iconic ITV game show. Advertisement 4 Nicholas Bennett took the iconic hotseat Credit: ITV 4 He reached the £1m question - and it concerned writers and words Credit: ITV 4 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?" Advertisement Read more on Millionaire 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. Advertisement Most read in News TV 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. 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. Advertisement 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 Faridah Oyetunji, a bio medical science student from Abbey Wood , struggled from the start of her game. Advertisement 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 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, The 1% Club - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left The Chase - The ITV daytime favourite left fans scratching their heads when it threw up 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." Advertisement 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. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire airs on ITV1 and ITVX. 4 Would you have got the question right? Credit: ITV
