ITV ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ Fans Fuming Over Jools Holland’s Blunders: ‘Completely Detached from the Real World!
A festive edition of ITV’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire left viewers unimpressed as some fans claimed it was “painful” to watch. Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the special episode featured celebrity contestants playing for charity, but it was musician Jools Holland’s performance that sparked criticism online.
Jools, an acclaimed pianist, bandleader, and television presenter, was the first celebrity in the hot seat. While his musical talents are undeniable, his general knowledge appeared less polished. Early in the game, Jools used most of his lifelines and found himself stuck on a question for £16,000, which he had set as his safety net, reported by the Express.
The question read: The ‘Football for Sale’ investigation by the Telegraph newspaper led to the resignation of which England manager? The options were Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Sam Allardyce, told GB News.
Admitting that football wasn’t his strong suit, Jools guessed Sven-Goran Eriksson as his final answer. Unfortunately, Jeremy Clarkson revealed the correct answer was Sam Allardyce, bringing Jools’ game to an end. Disappointed, Jools remarked, “Could I ask this – did anyone in the audience know that?” The audience responded with a resounding “yes.”
Clarkson offered words of consolation, admitting, “If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn’t have known that.” Jools replied, “Oh, well that does make me feel better.” Despite his loss, Jools left with £16,000 for his chosen charities, The Prince’s Trust and Caring Hands.
While his efforts secured a respectable donation, viewers on social media were less forgiving. Posting to X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote: “God, this is painful, it’s starting to irritate me. Switching off. #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire.” Another added: “Jools Holland proving to be detached from the real world here. #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire.”
Criticism continued as others chimed in: “A safety net at 16k? Jools Holland is terrible at this game. #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire,” and, “Wow. It’s a good job Jools can play the piano well because he’s bloody useless at this…. #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire.”
Although Jools’ performance may not have impressed fans, his participation still brought awareness and funds to two meaningful causes. Meanwhile, Clarkson’s reassurance that even he didn’t know the correct answer might have softened the blow for the musician.