ITV Who Wants to be a Millionaire fans fume at £125k mistake

Who Wants to be a Millionaire fans were left fuming as they claimed that one player had made an 'expensive mistake' and could have walked away with the £1million jackpot

Viewers of Who Wants to be a Millionaire were left frustrated as the latest episode aired. The popular ITV quiz show, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, saw contestants attempt to win the £1million jackpot.

The first contestant was Jackie, who successfully answered the Fastest Finger round in record time. However, she quickly used up all her lifelines, much to the disappointment of viewers.

Despite this, she managed to reach the £125,000 mark without any issues. At this point, Jackie decided to use her safety net, ensuring that even if she answered incorrectly, she would still walk away with a significant sum.

But when faced with a question about Floyd Mayweather's 2015 boxing match, Jackie was stumped. Opting not to guess, she chose to take the money and leave.

This decision was met with criticism from fans, some of whom suggested she could have gone further, or even won the jackpot, had she not "wasted" her lifelines so early on. One Twitter user commented: "She could have gone all the way if she used the lifelines smarter #wwtbam.", reports the Express.

One viewer remarked: "And this is why you shouldn't waste your lifelines on easy questions. #whowantstobeamillionaire," while another commented: "#WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire That was a waste of a lifeline."

A different fan expressed disappointment, saying: "3 lifelines wasted #WWTBAM."

Another added their voice to the criticism: "Well that was a very expensive lesson #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire."

While some viewers at home may not agree with the contestants' tactics, ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

takes serious precautions to prevent cheating, a legacy of the infamous Charles Ingram incident in 2001 when he cheated his way to £1 million. Ingram became one of the few to win the top prize, following Judith Keppel's legitimate win in 2000.

Ingram's scheme, which involved his wife and a friend in the audience coughing to indicate answers, was later exposed. Now, 25 years on, the show's producers have implemented stringent measures to ensure fair play, particularly during the Phone a Friend lifeline.

As reported by Broadcast, a dedicated team oversees security officers stationed at each Phone a Friend participant's home to guarantee the integrity of the game, adding a new layer of financial and logistical planning to the show's budget.