ITV Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hit with barrage of complaints – but there’s a twist

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire came under fire from disgruntled viewers last Sunday night, with several feeling frustrated at the slow pace of the game, branding the earlier questions a waste of time to observe. The legendary quiz host was once again in the spotlight for the recent episode of the beloved show, as eager contestants sought to win a life-changing sum.

As always, they could rely on familiar lifelines like Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend, and 50-50 if they found themselves in a bind. Despite its enduring appeal, now in its staggering 41st season, has been thrilling audiences since 1998, initially with as the face of the show till 2014.

Following a four-year break, ITV revived the programme in 2018, introducing Clarkson as the fresh-faced presenter guiding hopefuls through their nerve-wracking journey. In the latest episode aired on March 16, bus driver Jack Soley managed to bag the first spot in the infamous hot seat, impressing as one of two players who got the opening question correct fastest.

However, viewers quickly took to expressing their irritation with Jack’s slow responses, according to the Mirror, reports .

Some armchair critics argued that contestants like Jack should zip through the early, simpler rounds rather than get bogged down in ‘waffling’. Voices of dissatisfaction echoed across social media platforms, as one viewer exclaimed on X: “Why do people faff on answering the £100-£1000 questions? Just answer the question and get on with it!”.

Viewers were left divided over a contestant’s performance on the show, with one exasperated fan tweeting: “I was thinking Taylor Swift when the question came up, I don’t know why… BECAUSE THAT’S THE BLOODY ANSWER!” Another viewer couldn’t help but comment on the contestant’s animated expressions: “This guy has got one million ways of screwing his face up and he’s going through every one.”

In a less than enthusiastic recommendation, another added: “No point watching the first 10 minutes of the episode.”

Despite some struggles, Jack managed to reach his second safety net at £64,000 with two lifelines still in hand. The stakes were high as he faced a challenging question about the former capital of the Inca empire, with options A – Cartagena, B – Cuzco, C – Salvador, or D – Guatemala City.

After using up his remaining lifelines, Jack took a chance on B – Cuzco and breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed as the correct answer, guaranteeing him £64,000.

His luck continued as he successfully identified a piece of classical music featured in both Barbie and 2001, leaving him contemplating whether to take the £125,000 he had won so far. As the game progressed, viewers started to rally behind Jack, with one saying: “You go Jack really pleased for him.”

While another commended his approach: “Fair play, a relatively young player with decent knowledge and not risk averse.”

Messages flooded in congratulating the bus driver on his life-changing win, with one commenter saying: “Tough gig bus driver glad he’s taking home a big win.”

Another fan praised: “Go on son! Took some risks and on at least 100k!”.

In the end, Jack got the last laugh, entertaining viewers while securing a remarkable £250,000.