Jeremy Clarkson has once again swapped Diddly Squat farm for the TV studio, putting famous faces through their paces for the new celebrity series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Stephen Fry has already bagged £250k for charity, but still to take their place in the hot seat are boxer Tony Bellew, Dame Laura Kenny, and Steph McGovern, among other stars.
After taking over from Chris Tarrant to present the quiz show in 2018, the former Top Gear host, 64, reveals why he’s still not a fountain of knowledge…
Do you still love hosting Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
I’ve loved Millionaire since it started. And I still get a thrill out of watching people’s faces when they know the answer, but don’t think they do.
Can you sense their nerves?
It comes off them like a big red glow. And when they ask me a Lifeline question, I think, ‘What if I get this wrong and the charity loses thousands of pounds?’
Has the Ask Jeremy lifeline question got any easier?
No, it’s still terrifying. I was doing reasonably well on my average getting them right, but this series, I have been really useless.
Who has been the most nervous on the celebrity specials?
The boxer Tony Bellew. I’m not sure what was going on – nerves, rage, disappointment – as he is a lot cleverer than he lets on. At one stage, he was having a class war with himself about the word ‘hobnob’.
Which royal would be good on the show?
Queen Camilla would be fantastic.
Has your general knowledge improved since you started hosting Millionaire?
No. I don’t think the show improves anyone’s general knowledge, it just tests it. It’s very useful, because I can never remember where I put my spectacles, but somehow know the national beer of Sri Lanka is Lion. You think, ‘How is that in my head?’
Are you the first pick for pub quiz teams now?
Definitely not. I did a pub quiz once and the question was, ‘What was JFK Airport’s first name?’ I said Edelweiss and was ever so proud of myself, and they said, ‘No, it’s wrong’. It was Idlewild. They wouldn’t let me have it. I thought, ‘I am not doing this any more’. It was ridiculous.
Is it true you’ve recently acquired a new famous neighbour in Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi?
She lives in the village where our pub is. I welcome them all. Everyone said she has been cancelled, but she seemed nice when she came to the pub. The staff said she was very friendly and lovely.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is on ITV, Sundays.
