'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' contestant suffers biggest loss in show’s history

Nicholas Bennett reached the final £1m question with two lifelines intact, but still lost the jackpot.

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.