Who Wants To Be A Millionaire viewers were left disgruntled on Sunday night, lamenting that the opening segment seemed like a waste of time.
returned to host a fresh episode of the iconic ITV quiz show as contestants vied for a hefty cash prize, equipped with familiar lifelines such as Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend and 50-50 to assist them if they hit a snag.
Now in its astounding 41st series, the show has been gracing TV screens since its 1998 debut with Chris Tarrant at the helm until 2014.
After a four-year hiatus, it made a comeback in 2018, with Clarkson taking over as the face of the reinvigorated ITV1 programme.
The recent episode aired on Sunday (March 16) introduced viewers to bus driver Jack Soley, who was first in line for the notorious hot seat.
Jack got the last laugh after his performance (Image: ITV)
Jack stood out as one of only two to correctly tackle the starting question, securing his position through the fastest response.
Yet, as Jack commenced his gameplay, audiences weren’t pleased with the drawn-out nature of his participation, criticising him for the ponderous pace in what should’ve been simpler rounds, reports .
Frustrated fans hastily expressed their views online, with one venting on X: “Why do people faff on answering the £100-£1000 questions? Just answer the question and get on with it!”.
One viewer, unimpressed with Jack’s method of deducing the correct answer, remarked: “I was thinking Taylor Swift when the question came up, I don’t know why… BECAUSE THAT’S THE BLOODY ANSWER!” Another viewer commented: “This guy has got one million ways of screwing his face up and he’s going through every one.”
Jeremy Clarkson was certainly impressed with Jack (Image: ITV)
One person offered advice for those yet to watch, stating: “No point watching the first 10 minutes of the episode.”
Jack managed to secure his second safety net at £64,000 with two lifelines remaining after struggling with a UK driving test question. He faced difficulty with the next question about the former capital of the Inca empire, with options A – Cartagena, B – Cuzco, C – Salvador or D – Guatemala City.
After using his remaining lifelines, Jack chose B – Cuzco, which was correct, guaranteeing him £64,000 regardless of what happened next. He also correctly identified the piece of classical music featured in the opening sequence of Barbie and 2001, leaving him contemplating whether to leave the studio with £125,000.
As Jack gained momentum, viewers began to appreciate his style, with one saying: “You go Jack really pleased for him.”
Another added: “Fair play, a relatively young player with decent knowledge and not risk averse.”
A third chimed in with praise for the bus driver’s fortune, remarking: “Tough gig bus driver glad he’s taking home a big win.”
The cheer continued: “Go on son! Took some risks and on at least 100k!” Jack indeed got the last laugh and proved an entertaining watch for viewers as he walked away with a whopping £250,000.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Contoniues next Sunday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.