WHO Wants To Be a Millionaire host Jeremy Clarkson was left shocked during last night’s episode as he experienced an epic “show first.”
On Sunday (October 13), a new contestant set their safety net at over £100,000 in their bid to take home the ITV show’s huge jackpot.
After bringing back contestant Shahid Quayum from Glasgow to finish his turn from the previous week it was time for another Scot to test their knowledge in the hot seat. Kevin Leetion from Edinburgh quickly impressed viewers and TV host Jeremy Clarkson with his general knowledge.
Jeremy, 64, was left astonished as Kevin managed to reach the £125,000 mark without using a single lifeline or setting a safety net – quite a rare feat.
The lifelines allow players a helping hand, with options of 50:50, phone a friend, ask the audience or ask the host. Meanwhile, a safety net ensures that if they get the next answers wrong, they will still be going home with the amount that they have secured.
Before answering the £125,000 question, Kevin was offered the opportunity to set his safety net at £64,000 but he continued to race through the money ladder without it.
Facing the next round with no safety net, Jeremy asked: “Thomas Fairfax was a key figure in which of these historical events? A: Signing of the Magna Carter, B: Gunpowder Plot, C: English Civil War, or D: Great Fire of London.”
But Kevin was “100% sure” the answer was “English Civil War” so he easily passed through this round. It was only then that he decided to set a safety net.
“Absolutely tremendous,” Jeremy gushed. “And that means, I don’t think I’ve ever asked this before… Do you want to set your safety net at £125,000?” he asked with a laugh.
Shocked at what he’d just asked, Jeremy couldn’t help but laugh, while Kevin replied: “I will set it at that.”
“You will set it at that? And all lifelines left. This is… wow. My fingers are crossed here. This is something special,” Jeremy added.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire fans had high hopes for the player as they thought he would “make it all the way”, but that was sadly not the case. Kevin quickly used up his lifelines as he made it through a few more rounds, but he was left stumped on the £500,000 question.
“According to their official measurements, which of these paintings is the smallest?” Jeremy asked, dangling the half a million pound prize money in front of Kevin.
The possible answers were The Starry Night, Mona Lisa, Girl With a Pearl Earring or American Gothic. Kevin was unsure of the answer and after phoning a friend who also couldn’t help, the player decided not to chance it by taking a guess and opted to take the money instead, meaning he was walking away from the quiz show a quarter of a million pounds richer.
Before bowing out, Kevin had been leaning toward picking Starry Night, but this wrong answer would have cost him £125,000. The correct answer was Girl With a Pearl Earring.
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Fans at home were delighted for him, posting to X, formerly Twitter, with their well wishes for him.
One user penned: “He won £250k. I thought he might go all the way for a moment.”
While another wrote: “Good decision, Kevin. That was an awesome game there & he heads off with £250k!!”
“Absolutely correct decision by Kevin. Respect to him for the way he played,” a third praised.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? airs on Sundays at 8pm on ITV and is available to stream on ITVX.
