Jeremy Clarkson stunned as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire contestant loses record sum
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host Jeremy Clarkson renamed tonight’s episode “Who Wants To Win Nothing At All” after it featured a string of struggling contestants — including one who lost the second largest sum of money in the show’s history.
Just a week ago, the presenter jubilantly crowned retired IT analyst Roman Dubowski a £1m winner. However, in sharp contrast, one woman lost a staggering £186,000 by gambling everything — making her the second biggest loser in the programme’s history. Another contestant departed with a mere £1,000, prompting Clarkson to quip that he had “come on the wrong show” given his woeful general knowledge. The most dramatic moment of the evening on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire came courtesy of Jen Essery Lillikakis, a product manager from Stratford.
She revealed she was hoping to scoop a substantial sum to fund a lavish honeymoon for herself and her husband Kyri — who was seated in the audience — following their recent nuptials. Jen sailed through the early general knowledge rounds covering sportswear brands, English phrases, art, Shakespeare and cookery, reports the Mirror.
Upon reaching the £32,000 milestone, she played it safe and opted to Ask The Audience which musical instrument has been closely associated with Hawaii since the 1880s — steel drum, ukulele, kazoo or washboard.
The audience correctly identified the ukulele. Jen subsequently set her safety net at £64,000. On the £125,000 question, she used her 50-50 lifeline and Ask the Host lifelines when asked “Which of these multiple winners of the best actor Oscar has only been nominated twice for the award but won on both occasions – Sean Penn, Daniel Day-Lewis, Adrien Brody, Anthony Hopkins?”
She correctly identified Adrien Brody as the answer. She then secured the £250,000 question: “Which figure in Greek mythology was cursed to utter true prophecies that were never believed? Cassandra, Ariadne, Pandora, Andromed” by correctly selecting Cassandra.
However, things took a dramatic turn on the £500,000 question. She faced the challenge: “According to Guinness World Records, which of these has travelled at over 260 miles per hour during a competitive game or match? Tennis ball, Ice hockey puck, Badminton shuttlecock, Table tennis ball”
Jen called upon her Phone-A-Friend lifeline, but her father Chris was unable to help. Clarkson cautioned her: “You are now completely on your own and have no more lifelines. If you get this wrong, if you go for it and get it wrong, you lose £186,000.”
He also reminded her that she could walk away without answering and still leave with a substantial sum, saying: “You can go home with £250,000.”
She deliberated: “Would I be more annoyed at giving it go and getting it wrong…. Or not giving it a go?” Ultimately, she pressed on and selected an ice hockey puck, while the correct answer was shuttlecock. The audience gasped in disbelief at her devastating loss. Clarkson told her: “Oh my god you have just lost £186,000! It is unbelievable you took a punt on that. You need a bravery award for that.” She said: “Well, that’s fine. I have won £64,000.”
Jen now holds the unenviable title of the show’s second biggest loser, surpassed only by Nicholas Bennett, who last year tackled the £1million question, answered incorrectly, and forfeited £375,000.
The evening brought further disappointment when contestant Arunan Jeyakumar from Newbury Park took his place in the hot seat, only to disappoint, departing with a mere £1,000 after burning through all three lifelines.
The clinical researcher faltered on straightforward general knowledge questions. He was forced to Ask The Host on the £500 question: “A ballcock is commonly found inside what of there? Light bulb/Burglar alarm/Toilet cistern/Electric kettle”. The presenter admitted: “It’s a surprise to be brought in this early,” telling him it was a toilet cistern.
Arunan then had to Ask The Audience on the £1,000 question: “Members of the allium family include leeks, garlic and which of these? Parsley/Rosemary/Basil/Chives?” They correctly answered chives. Clarkson told him: “We have established that you’re not brilliant on cooking and we’ve established you don’t know anything about plumbing.”
